smooth-talking
Persuasive and polished
Smooth-talking describes someone skilled at persuasive, flattering, or deceptively charming speech.
The term usually implies manipulation beneath the polish—a smooth-talking salesman or con artist wins trust through verbal finesse rather than substance: He smooth-talked his way into the job.
The verb smooth-talk and noun smooth talker carry the same skeptical edge.
Persuasively articulate speaker
- charismaticCompellingly attractive to others
- charmingPleasantly attractive in manner
- suaveSmoothly refined in manner
- debonairSophisticated and carefree
urbane · polished · sophisticated · personable · engaging · captivating · winning · disarming
Able to persuade
- persuasiveAble to convince others
- compellingPowerfully engaging or persuasive
- influentialHaving considerable effect
- eloquentFluent and persuasive
articulate · rhetorical · cogent · seductive · coaxing · cajolery · wheedling · enticing
Superficially articulate
- oilyCovered in grease
- smarmyInsincerely ingratiating
- slipperyLacking friction, hard-to-grasp
- insincereFeigning belief or feeling
manipulative · cunning · crafty · wily · artful · scheming · conniving · disingenuous
Express clearly, or well-spoken
- fluentSpeaking smoothly, effortlessly
- expressiveShowing feelings outwardly
- well-spokenSpeaking with refinement
- silver-tonguedPersuasively articulate speaker
oratorical · glib · voluble · loquacious · verbose · lucid · coherent · mellifluous
Expressions of admiration
- ingratiationDeliberate favor-seeking behavior
- adulationExtravagant, servile praise
- fawningExcessive insincere flattery
- sycophancyObsequious behavior toward authority
blarney · schmoozing · honeyed · blandishments · toadying · obsequiousness · soft-soap · apple-polishing
silver-tongued
Persuasively articulate speaker
- charismaticCompellingly attractive to others
- charmingPleasantly attractive in manner
- suaveSmoothly refined in manner
debonair · urbane · polished · sophisticated · personable · engaging · captivating · winning · disarming · likeable
convincing
Able to persuade
- persuasiveAble to convince others
- compellingPowerfully engaging or persuasive
- influentialHaving considerable effect
eloquent · articulate · rhetorical · cogent · seductive · coaxing · cajolery · wheedling · enticing · beguiling
glib
Superficially articulate
insincere · manipulative · cunning · crafty · wily · artful · scheming · conniving · disingenuous · two-faced
articulate
Express clearly, or well-spoken
- fluentSpeaking smoothly, effortlessly
- expressiveShowing feelings outwardly
- well-spokenSpeaking with refinement
silver-tongued · oratorical · glib · voluble · loquacious · verbose · lucid · coherent · mellifluous · honey-tongued
compliments
Expressions of admiration
- ingratiationDeliberate favor-seeking behavior
- adulationExtravagant, servile praise
- fawningExcessive insincere flattery
sycophancy · blarney · schmoozing · honeyed · blandishments · toadying · obsequiousness · soft-soap · apple-polishing · bootlicking
- persuadingpersuading, convincing, urging, coaxing, influencing
- cunningcunning, craftiness, crafty, guile, slyness
- persuasionpersuade, persuasion, persuasive, convince, convincing
smooth-talkingblunt
Dull or tactlessly direct
brusque · curt · gruff · abrupt · plain-spoken
smooth-talkingplainspoken
Candid in speech
sincere · guileless · artless · honest · forthright
smooth-talkingawkward
Lacking grace or ease
tongue-tied · inarticulate · bumbling · halting · fumbling
talk, smooth, talks, smoothly, talking, talkative, talker, talked, smoothie