as in speech
the art of speaking in public eloquently and effectively the oft-told story that he practiced elocution by learning to speak with a mouth full of pebbles

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of elocution Elizabeth—with her precise elocution, her terrifying and obvious sincerity—sounded like a woman on the brink of a great cosmic battle. Emily Harnett, Harper's Magazine, 26 Apr. 2024 Rosetta was unusually anxious about public speaking, so she was given elocution lessons. Anita Gates, New York Times, 14 Oct. 2023 Would elocution stand a chance if it were formally reintroduced into the school curriculum today? Robert Klose, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 July 2023 She quickly to turning to the theater, aided by elocution lessons, and found her calling. Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2023 See All Example Sentences for elocution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elocution
Noun
  • Having more data about AAE will help to improve these speech recognition tools, which can often misinterpret AAE.
    Janice Gassam Asare, Forbes.com, 19 July 2025
  • According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of this cancer include persistent sores, pain, difficulty swallowing or chewing and changes in speech.
    Jordan Greene, People.com, 18 July 2025
Noun
  • Hugo would likely have been repelled and fascinated by Trump’s demagoguery, his rambling mendacity, his grammatically illogical but easy-to-follow oratory.
    Graham Robb, The Atlantic, 9 June 2025
  • Her brand at the time was something like the Obama of the antipodes: a liberal media darling, icon of the global anti-Trump resistance, transitioning smoothly from lofty oratory to easygoing relatability.
    Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 9 June 2025
Noun
  • His tirades against Ukraine stood out for their bloodthirsty rhetoric.
    Simon Shuster, Time, 17 July 2025
  • While democratic Taiwan has long been used to those threats, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the increasingly shrill rhetoric from Chinese leader Xi Jinping and conflict in the Middle East have thrown into sharp relief what could be at stake if peace falters.
    Will Ripley, CNN Money, 17 July 2025
Noun
  • Leveraging LinkedIn's Educational Resources LinkedIn Learning offers thousands of free courses covering leadership, public speaking, coding, graphic design, and LinkedIn optimization.
    Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
  • Key educational components like public speaking and presenting, as well as activities fostering social engagement, can uplift students at kindergarten age and prepare them for life beyond the classroom.
    Andrea Vargas, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Elocution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elocution. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on elocution

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!