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
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Example Sentences
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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
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
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Saturday afternoon will feature the main event, when the four former players will take the stage, unveil their Hall of Fame busts and give speeches.—
Saad Yousuf,
New York Times,
31 July 2025
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The church's chef, Odeh, gave a small speech, telling students this community is an act of defiance in itself for all those who want to separate and isolate the others.—
Lily Kepner,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
Noun
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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
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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
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This is fueled by misinformation, a growing distrust in government health authorities and the amplification of anti-vac rhetoric in social media and the popular news outlets.—
Armstrong Williams,
Baltimore Sun,
2 Aug. 2025
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The stock began to drop the next day and never recovered, right into the teeth of President Trump's tariff rhetoric and the eventual Liberation Day crash.—
Josh Brown,Sean Russo,
CNBC,
31 July 2025
Noun
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The Leo full moon on the 12th encourages you to use your voice more boldly, whether that’s through writing, teaching, public speaking, or social media.—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
1 Aug. 2025
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Think: turning down a promotion that involves more public speaking, or skipping your best friend’s birthday because the thought of mingling with strangers isn’t worth it.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
28 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Elocution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elocution. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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