Definition of ELOQUENT (original) (raw)
1
: marked by forceful and fluent expression
2
: vividly or movingly expressive or revealing
Did you know?
Since eloquent has to do with speaking, it makes sense that it comes from the Latin verb loquī, which means "to talk or speak." (The adjective loquacious describes a person who is skilled at or has the inclination for talking.) Expression of the self can be seen and not heard, which gives meaning to eloquent as an adjective for nonverbal impressive acts.
Synonyms
Examples of eloquent in a Sentence
He [H. L. Mencken] relished the vagaries of vernacular speech and paid eloquent homage to them in The American Language. —
Jackson Lears, New Republic, 27 Jan. 2003 Samuel Johnson is palmed off in classrooms as a harmless drudge of a lexicographer, yet open the Dictionary anywhere and find precision and eloquent plainness. —Guy Davenport, The Geography of the Imagination, (1954) 1981 There was a burst of applause, and a deep silence which was even more eloquent than the applause. —Thomas Hardy, The Mayor of Casterbridge, 1886
His success serves as an eloquent reminder of the value of hard work. an eloquent writer and speaker, Elizabeth Cady Stanton was one of the founders of the women's rights movement
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Parthenon Marbles: The Case for Reunification By Christopher Hitchens Christopher Hitchens, among the most eloquent and forceful advocates of rejoining the Parthenon marbles, helped tilt me toward the cause of repatriation. —Ralph Leonard, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2025 They’re aided throughout by Bryce Dessner’s string score and eloquent, salt-of-the-earth narration from Will Patton (who also recorded the audiobook, repeating choice lines of Johnson’s at key moments here). —Peter Debruge, Variety, 26 Jan. 2025 An eloquent example of this strategy in action is the establishment of the Yizhuang Pilot Zone in the Chinese capital. —Alexandr Khomich, Forbes, 21 Jan. 2025 George Washington’s farewell address, a long valedictory letter written largely by Alexander Hamilton, and published in Claypoole’s Daily Advertiser, in September, 1796, was an eloquent rationale for his departure from public life and for the need for peaceful transitions of power. —David Remnick, The New Yorker, 16 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for eloquent 
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin ēloquent-, ēloquens "capable of speech, expressing oneself fluently," from present participle of ēloquī "to utter, put into words," from ē- e- entry 1 + loquī "to talk, speak," probably going back to dialectal Indo-European *tlokw- "talk," whence also Old Irish ad-tluichethar "(s/he) gives thanks" (originally with buide "thanks" as object, as in atluchedar buidi do Día "he thanks God"), do-tluichethar "(s/he) desires, beseeches, asks," Old Church Slavic tlŭk "interpreter" (from *tl̥kw-o-)
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of eloquent was in the 14th century
Dictionary Entries Near eloquent
Cite this Entry
“Eloquent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eloquent. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
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Last Updated: 8 Feb 2025 - Updated example sentences
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