Definition

Adjective: * Articulate and persuasive in speech: Describes a person who speaks in a fluent, eloquent, and seemingly effortless manner, often with the intent to charm, persuade, or impress.

Usage

The adjective "smooth-spoken" is used to describe a person's characteristic manner of speaking. It often carries a connotation of being almost too polished or glib, suggesting the speech may be designed to deceive or manipulate as easily as to genuinely communicate. * It typically precedes a noun (e.g., a smooth-spoken salesman). * It can follow a linking verb like be, seem, or become (e.g., He was remarkably smooth-spoken).

Examples

• The smooth-spoken politician easily won over the crowd with his promises.
• Be wary of smooth-spoken strangers offering deals that seem too good to be true.
• She is so smooth-spoken in interviews that she never seems flustered by difficult questions.
• His smooth-spoken apology did little to repair the damage caused by his actions.

Advanced Usage

• The term can imply a superficial or insincere quality beneath the polished exterior. While "eloquent" is generally positive, "smooth-spoken" can be neutral or slightly negative, hinting at a lack of substance.
• It is a compound adjective formed from "smooth" and "spoken." Similar constructions include "soft-spoken" or "well-spoken."

Variants and Related Words

• Silver-tongued (adj.): A near-synonym with a stronger positive connotation of eloquent and persuasive speech.
• Facile (adj.): Often critical, meaning something is achieved with superficial ease or lacks depth (e.g., a facile argument).
• Glib (adj.): Overly fluent and insincere; more negative than "smooth-spoken."
• Eloquent (adj.): Fluent, persuasive, and moving in speech; generally a positive term.
• Articulate (adj.): Able to express ideas clearly and effectively.

Synonyms

• Eloquent
• Persuasive
• Fluent
• Glib
• Silver-tongued

Antonyms

• Inarticulate
• Tongue-tied
• Halting
• Uncommunicative

Related Idioms and Phrases

• To have a silver tongue: To be eloquently persuasive.
  • The lawyer had a silver tongue that could sway any jury.
• Gift of the gab: The ability to speak effortlessly and persuasively, often in a social context.
  • With his gift of the gab, he was a natural salesman.

Adjective

1. expressing yourself readily, clearly, effectively
   • able to dazzle with his facile tongue
   • silver speech