Synonyms and antonyms of Words used to describe writing or speech style in British Thesaurus

articulate (adjective)

able to express your thoughts, arguments, and ideas clearly and effectively

articulate (adjective)

articulate writing or speech is clear and easy to understand

be couched in something ()

to be expressed a particular way

chatty (adjective)

a chatty writing style is friendly and informal

circuitous (adjective)

taking a long time to say what you really mean when you are talking or writing about something

clean (adjective)

clean language or humour does not offend people, especially because it does not involve sex

compendious (adjective)

formal short but containing all that is necessary

conversational (adjective)

a conversational style of writing or speaking is informal, like a private conversation

crisp (adjective)

crisp speech or writing is clear and effective

declamatory (adjective)

formal expressing feelings or opinions with great force

diffuse (adjective)

formal using too many words and not easy to understand

discursive (adjective)

including information that is not relevant to the main subject

economical (adjective)

an economical way of speaking or writing does not use more words than are necessary

elliptical (adjective)

suggesting what you mean rather than saying or writing it clearly

eloquent (adjective)

expressing what you mean using clear and effective language

emphatic (adjective)

making your meaning very clear because you have very strong feelings about a situation or subject

emphatically (adverb)

very firmly and clearly

epigrammatic (adjective)

expressing something such as a feeling or idea in a short and clever or funny way

epistolary (adjective)

literary relating to the writing of letters

euphemistic (adjective)

euphemistic expressions are used for talking about unpleasant or embarrassing subjects without mentioning the things themselves

flowery (adjective)

flowery language or writing uses many complicated words that are intended to make it more attractive

fluent (adjective)

expressing yourself in a clear and confident way, without seeming to make an effort

formal (adjective)

correct or conservative in style, and suitable for official or serious situations or occasions

formally (adverb)

in a correct or conservative style or manner that is suitable for official or serious situations or occasions

gossipy (adjective)

a gossipy letter is lively and full of news about the writer of the letter and about other people

grandiloquent (adjective)

formal expressed in extremely formal language in order to impress people, and often sounding silly because of this

have something/a lot/nothing etc to say for yourself ()

to be fairly/very/not at all keen to talk, especially about yourself and your reasons for doing something

idiomatic (adjective)

expressing things in a way that sounds natural

in (adjective)

using a particular type or style of writing

inarticulate (adjective)

not able to express clearly what you want to say

inarticulate (adjective)

not spoken or pronounced clearly

incoherent (adjective)

unable to express yourself clearly

informal (adjective)

used about language or behaviour that is suitable for using with friends but not in formal situations

journalistic (adjective)

similar in style to journalism

learned (adjective)

a learned piece of writing shows great knowledge about a subject, especially an academic subject

literary (adjective)

involving books or the activity of writing, reading, or studying books

literary (adjective)

relating to the kind of words that are used only in stories or poems, and not in normal writing or speech

lyric (adjective)

using words to express feelings in the way that a song would

lyrical (adjective)

having the qualities of music

ornate (adjective)

using unusual words and complicated sentences

orotund (adjective)

very formal containing extremely formal and complicated language intended to impress people

parenthetical (adjective)

not directly connected with what you are saying or writing

pejorative (adjective)

formal a pejorative word, phrase etc expresses criticism or a bad opinion of someone or something

picturesque (adjective)

picturesque language is unusual and interesting

pithy (adjective)

a pithy statement or piece of writing is short and very effective

poetic (adjective)

expressing ideas in a very sensitive way and with great beauty or imagination

polemical (adjective)

formal using or supported by strong arguments

ponderous (adjective)

mainly literary ponderous writing or speech is serious and boring

portentous (adjective)

formal trying to seem very serious and important, in order to impress people

prolix (adjective)

very formal using too many words and therefore boring

punchy (adjective)

a punchy piece of writing such as a speech, report, or slogan is one that has a strong effect because it uses clear simple language and not many words

rambling (adjective)

a rambling speech or piece of writing is long and confusing

readable (adjective)

writing that is readable is clear and able to be read

rhetorical (adjective)

relating to a style of speaking or writing that is effective or intended to influence people

rhetorical (adjective)

written or spoken in a way that is impressive but is not honest

rhetorically (adverb)

in a way that expects or wants no answer

rhetorically (adverb)

using or relating to rhetoric

rough (adjective)

a rough drawing or piece of writing is not completely finished

roundly (adverb)

in a strong and clear way

sententious (adjective)

formal expressing opinions about right and wrong behaviour in a way that is intended to impress people

sesquipedalian (adjective)

very formal using a lot of long words that most people do not understand

Shakespearean (adjective)

using words in the way that is typical of Shakespeare’s writing

slangy (adjective)

informal containing or using a lot of slang

stylistic (adjective)

relating to ways of creating effects, especially in language and literature

succinct (adjective)

expressed in a very short but clear way

turgid (adjective)

using language in a way that is complicated and difficult to understand

unprintable (adjective)

used for describing writing or words that you think are offensive

vague (adjective)

someone who is vague does not clearly or fully explain something

vaguely (adverb)

in a way that is not clear

verbose (adjective)

formal using more words than necessary, and therefore long and boring

well-turned (adjective)

a well-turned phrase is one that is expressed well

with (your) tongue in (your) cheek ()

if you write or say something with tongue in cheek, you intend it to be humorous and do not mean it seriously

worded (adjective)

expressed in a particular way

wordy (adjective)

using more words than are necessary, especially long or formal words