verbal
Expressed through speech
Verbal means expressed in words, whether spoken or written: a verbal agreement, verbal abuse.
In grammar, verbal refers to forms derived from verbs—participles, gerunds, infinitives.
Colloquially, verbal often implies spoken rather than written: We had a verbal understanding, nothing on paper.
Someone who is verbal communicates readily with words; a nonverbal child does not yet speak.
Oral communication ability
- utteranceSpoken expression aloud
- pronunciationManner of speaking words
- articulationClear vocal expression
- enunciateSpeak with clarity
intonation · accent · dialect · monologue · soliloquy · dialogue · conversation · discourse
Enforceable written agreement
- commitmentFirm pledge to act
- promiseCommitment to act
- handshakeMutual palm-gripping gesture
- assuranceFirm promise or certainty
pledge · word · understanding · oath · vow · guarantee · affirmation · consent
Rules for arranging words
- grammarLanguage's structural rules
- semanticsStudy of linguistic meaning
- morphologyStudy of structural forms
- phonologyScience of language sounds
vocabulary · lexicon · diction · etymology · inflection · conjugation · declension · tense
Fluent and persuasive
- articulateExpress clearly, or well-spoken
- fluentSpeaking smoothly, effortlessly
- persuasiveAble to convince others
- expressiveShowing feelings outwardly
silver-tongued · glib · rhetorical · oratorical · convincing · cogent · lucid · vivid
Mutual giving and receiving
- discussionExchange of ideas
- debateFormal argument on issues
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
- interviewFormal questioning session
parley · rapport · intercourse · interlocution · communique · correspondence · conveyance · transmission
speech
Oral communication ability
- utteranceSpoken expression aloud
- pronunciationManner of speaking words
- articulationClear vocal expression
enunciate · intonation · accent · dialect · monologue · soliloquy · dialogue · conversation · discourse · oratory
contract
Enforceable written agreement
- commitmentFirm pledge to act
- promiseCommitment to act
- handshakeMutual palm-gripping gesture
assurance · pledge · word · understanding · oath · vow · guarantee · affirmation · consent · accord
syntax
Rules for arranging words
- grammarLanguage's structural rules
- semanticsStudy of linguistic meaning
- morphologyStudy of structural forms
phonology · vocabulary · lexicon · diction · etymology · inflection · conjugation · declension · tense · clause
eloquent
Fluent and persuasive
- articulateExpress clearly, or well-spoken
- fluentSpeaking smoothly, effortlessly
- persuasiveAble to convince others
expressive · silver-tongued · glib · rhetorical · oratorical · convincing · cogent · lucid · vivid · voluble
exchange
Mutual giving and receiving
- discussionExchange of ideas
- debateFormal argument on issues
- negotiationDiscussion seeking mutual accord
interview · parley · rapport · intercourse · interlocution · communique · correspondence · conveyance · transmission · interaction
- languagelanguage, word, words, grammar, spelling
- speechspeech, speaking, talk, diction, conversation
- Language Wordsoral, written, spoken, fluent, articulate
- Learning Stylesauditory, visual, kinesthetic, tactile, logical
- Sanskrit grammarPanini, nominative, accusative, sutra, dative
- expressionexpress, convey, communicate, speaking, talking
verbalwritten
Composed in text
textual · documentary · printed · epistolary · recorded
verbalnonverbal
Not using speech
nonlinguistic · physical · gestural · bodily · kinesthetic
verbalsilent
Producing no sound
mute · wordless · uncommunicative · incommunicative · taciturn
- verbal contractSpoken, unwritten binding promise
- verbal abuseHarmful speech targeting someone
- linking verbsVerbs showing state
- verbal agreementSpoken mutual commitment
- verbal diarrheaCompulsive excessive speech
- verbal attackAggressive spoken criticism
verb, proverb, adverb, verbs, verbose, verbalize, verbatim, proverbs, proverbial