Unit 1 Vocab
brevity (noun)
briefness or conciseness in speech or writing -synonyms: conciseness, succinctness, pithiness, terseness -antonyms: verbose, (loquacious, garrulous)
succinct (adj.)
clearly and briefly stated -synonyms: concise, laconic, pithy, terse -antonyms: verbose, (loquacious, garrulous)
acerbic (adj.)
expressing harsh or sharp criticism in a clever way
reticent (adj.)
not talking much; reserved -synonyms: taciturn -antonyms:
colloquial (adj.)
pertaining to common everyday speech; conversational
quiescent (adj.)
quiet; still; inactive -synonyms: -antonyms:
rhetorical (adj.)
relating to speech that is used to persuade or have some effect; insincere in expression -synonyms: eloquent, bombastic, grandiloquent, voluble? -antonyms: concise
taciturn (adj.)
silent; sparing of words; close-mouthed -synonyms: reticent, laconic, quiescent? -antonyms: verbose
circumlocution (noun)
speaking in circles' round about speech -synonyms: verbosity, diffuseness, -antonyms: terseness, conciseness
diffuse (adj.)
spread out, not concise; wordy -synonyms: verbose? -antonyms: succinct, (concise, succinct, laconic, terse, pithy)
garrulous (adj.)
talkative -synonyms: loquacious, voluble, verbose, rambling, digressive, diffuse, prattling -antonyms: quiescent, taciturn, reticent
voluble (adj.)
talking a great deal with ease; glib -synonyms: loquacious, garrulous, verbose, rambling, colloquial? -antonyms: taciturn, quiescent
prattle (verb)
to speak on and on in a senseless and silly manner; to talk foolishly -synonyms: ranting, ramble -antonyms:
ramble (verb)
to talk on and on pointlessly, without clear direction -synonyms: digress, rant?, prattle -antonyms:
rant (verb)
to talk very loudly, even wildly; rave -synonyms: -antonyms: quiescent?
digress (verb)
to wander off from the subject or topic spoken about -synonyms: circumlocute -antonyms:
grandiloquent (adj.)
using big and fancy words when speaking for the purpose of impressing others -synonyms: bombastic, verbose -antonyms: reticent?, quiescent?
concise (adj.)
using few words in speaking or writing -synonyms: pithy, succinct, terse, laconic -antonyms: verbose, (loquacious, garrulous)
laconic (adj.)
using few words in speech -synonyms: concise, succinct, pithy, terse, reticent, taciturn -antonyms: verbose, (loquacious, garrulous)
bombastic (adj.)
using language in a pompous, showy way; speaking to impress others -synonyms: verbose, grandiloquent -antonyms: reticent?, quiescent?
terse (adj.)
using only the words that are needed to make the point; very concise, sometimes to the point of rudeness -synonyms: concise, succinct, pithy -antonyms: verbose, (loquacious, garrulous)
verbose (adj.)
using too many words; wordy; long-winded -synonyms: loquacious, garrulous, bombastic, diffuse, circumlocutory, grandiloquent, rhetorical? -antonyms: concise, succinct (terse, pithy, laconic)
loquacious (adj.)
very talkative; liking to talk -synonyms: voluble, garrulous, verbose -antonyms: reticent, taciturn, quiescent, taciturn
eloquence (noun)
artful ease with speaking; speech that can influence people's feelings -synonyms: rhetoric, grandiloquence, loquacity, volubility -antonyms:
pithy (adj.)
brief and full of meaning and substance -synonyms: succinct, terse, concise, laconic -antonyms: verbose, (loquacious, garrulous)