articulate
/ɑrˈtɪkjəˌleɪt/Another word for clear — able to explain ideas in speech in a smooth, organized way.
Example: The lawyer was articulate, laying out the argument step by step.
C120 words · Advanced
Speaking & Thinking vocabulary — C1
Speaking and thinking vocabulary for careful argument and analysis — articulate, terse, astute and deduce — telling an eloquent, forthright speaker apart from one who is verbose or rambling.
20 questions
Words in this set
20eloquent
/ˈɛləkwənt/Another word for fluent — speech that's persuasive and put together really well.
Example:
The eloquent speaker had the whole room listening.
terse
/tɜrs/Another word for short — a reply so quick it feels abrupt rather than polite.
Example:
His terse email just said, "Noted. Thanks."
refute
/rɪˈfjut/The academic word for proving that something is wrong, used about a claim or argument.
Example:
The lawyer's evidence completely refuted the witness's claim.
digress
/daɪˈɡrɛs/Another word for going off topic — drifting away from the main point while you're speaking.
Example:
Sorry, I digressed — let's get back to the budget.
verbose
The opposite of concise — using far more words than necessary to say something.
Example:
His verbose explanation left everyone even more confused.
curt
/kɜrt/Another word for terse — used when a reply feels almost rude because it's so short.
Example:
Her curt reply made it clear she didn't want to talk.
rambling
/ˈræmblɪŋ/Another word for digress — used about speech or writing that wanders without a clear structure.
Example:
His rambling speech went on for almost an hour.
forthright
/ˈfɔrˈθraɪt/Another word for direct — saying exactly what you think, without hesitation.
Example:
She gave a forthright opinion on the proposal.
retract
/riˈtrækt/Another word for withdraw — officially taking back something you said or wrote.
Example:
The newspaper was forced to retract its false claim.
discern
/dɪˈsɜrn/The formal word for noticing something, used when it's not easy to see clearly.
Example:
It was hard to discern any pattern in the data.
astute
/əˈstut/Another word for clever — quick to understand situations and the people in them.
Example:
She made an astute observation about the market trends.
speculate
/ˈspɛkjəˌleɪt/The formal word for guessing, used when you form an idea without having all the facts.
Example:
Analysts speculate that prices will rise next year.
oblivious
/əˈblɪviəs/The opposite of aware — not noticing or realizing what's happening around you.
Example:
He was completely oblivious to the tension in the room.
profound
/proʊˈfaʊnd/The opposite of superficial — showing deep and serious thought or understanding.
Example:
The book offers a profound insight into human nature.
perceptive
/pərˈsɛptɪv/Another word for astute — noticing small details that other people miss.
Example:
That was a really perceptive comment about the play.
deduce
/dɪˈdus/Another word for work out — reaching a conclusion by using logic and the evidence you have.
Example:
From the muddy footprints, he could deduce she'd been outside.
presume
/prɪˈzum/Another word for assume — accepting something as true without checking first.
Example:
I presume you've already read the report.
unbiased
/ˌʌnˈbaɪəst/The opposite of biased — judging something fairly, without being influenced by personal feelings.
Example:
We need an unbiased referee for the final.
enlightened
/ˌɛnˈlaɪtənd/Another word for informed — understanding something deeply, often after learning more about it.
Example:
The workshop left us feeling far more enlightened about the issue.
