Words / C2

l-uh-KWAYSH-uh-s/ləˈkweɪʃəs/

Loquacious means talking a great deal — a formal, slightly amused word for talkative. Talkative is everyday; chatty is informal and friendlier; garrulous is a close synonym, often more critical (tedious talk). Loquacity is the noun. In speech, talks a lot is enough. It describes quantity of speech, not wisdom; a loquacious witness can still be precise, or empty.

Meaning

Talking a great deal (formal).

Examples

• “The loquacious guest dominated the dinner.”
• “The loquacious guest turned a two-course dinner into a seminar.”
• “Loquacious minutes are not the same as accurate ones; they are longer.”

Good to know

Very talkative (formal). Everyday: talkative / chatty. Close: garrulous (often tediously so). Noun: loquacity. Quantity, not quality.

Near in meaning

talkative

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