garrulous
/ˈɡɛrələs/Another word for talkative — chatting on and on, often about unimportant things.
Example: My uncle turns wonderfully garrulous after a glass of wine.
C222 words · Proficient
Speaking & Thinking vocabulary — C2
Speaking and thinking vocabulary for nuanced argument — garrulous, equivocate, incisive and shrewd — telling a taciturn, tight-lipped speaker apart from one who is loquacious or given to circumlocution.
22 questions
Words in this set
22taciturn
/ˈtæsɪˌtɜrn/The opposite of chatty — saying very little, or not liking to talk much at all.
Example:
He's fairly taciturn at work, but he opens up completely with old friends.
equivocate
/ɪˈkwɪvəˌkeɪt/The opposite of speaking plainly — to give a deliberately vague or evasive answer.
Example:
The minister kept equivocating whenever reporters asked about the budget.
glib
/ɡlɪb/Another word for fluent — talking smoothly and confidently, but in a way that feels insincere.
Example:
He gave a glib apology that convinced nobody.
vociferous
/voʊˈsɪfərəs/Another word for vocal — loud and forceful, especially when complaining or objecting to something.
Example:
Local residents have been vociferous in their opposition to the new airport.
unequivocal
/ˌʌnɪˈkwɪvəkəl/The opposite of ambiguous — leaving absolutely no doubt about what is meant.
Example:
She gave an unequivocal yes the moment he asked.
loquacious
/loʊˈkweɪʃəs/Another word for garrulous — used about someone who talks a great deal, often about unimportant things.
Example:
He's famously loquacious at family dinners.
tight-lipped
Another word for taciturn — deliberately refusing to say very much.
Example:
Officials remained tight-lipped about the investigation.
prevaricate
/prəˈvɛrəkeɪt/Another word for equivocate — used in formal writing about avoiding a direct or honest answer.
Example:
The minister continued to prevaricate when asked about the budget.
categorical
/ˌkætəˈɡɑrɪkəl/Another word for unequivocal — a statement or denial that leaves absolutely no doubt.
Example:
She gave a categorical denial of the accusations.
circumlocution
The formal word for using far more words than you need, used about writing.
Example:
The clause is pure circumlocution and could be one sentence.
incisive
/ˌɪnˈsaɪsɪv/Another word for astute — comments or thinking that go straight to the heart of a problem.
Example:
Her incisive comments exposed the flaw in his argument immediately.
credulous
/ˈkrɛdʒələs/The opposite of sceptical — too ready to believe whatever you're told.
Example:
Con artists prey on credulous investors looking for a quick profit.
surmise
/sərˈmaɪz/The formal word for reaching a conclusion from limited evidence, used about clues rather than direct proof.
Example:
From the muddy boots, she surmised that he'd been out walking in the rain.
dogmatic
/dɑɡˈmætɪk/The opposite of open-minded — convinced your own opinion is always right.
Example:
He's too dogmatic to ever admit he might be wrong.
erudite
/ˈɛrəˌdaɪt/The formal word for someone with deep, scholarly knowledge, used about books, history or academic subjects.
Example:
The professor's erudite lectures often left half the class lost.
myopic
/maɪˈɑpɪk/The opposite of forward-thinking — focused only on the present, without considering the future.
Example:
Critics called the policy myopic, solving today's problem but creating tomorrow's.
gullible
/ˈɡʌləbəl/Another word for credulous — used informally about someone who's easily tricked because they believe everything.
Example:
He's gullible enough to believe any story you tell him.
shrewd
/ʃrud/Another word for sharp — having excellent practical judgement, especially about money or people.
Example:
She made a shrewd business decision that doubled her profits.
conjecture
/kənˈdʒɛktʃər/The academic word for a guess based on limited evidence, used when something hasn't yet been proven true.
Example:
It's pure conjecture at this point — we have no real proof.
prescient
/ˈprɛsiənt/Another word for far-sighted — seeming to correctly predict what will happen in the future.
Example:
Her prescient warning about the market crash proved true.
cogitate
/ˈkɑdʒɪˌteɪt/The formal word for thinking something over carefully, used about a decision.
Example:
He would cogitate for a week before answering a simple letter.
