garrulous

adjective

ˈger-ə-ləs How to pronounce garrulous (audio)
Definition of garrulousnext
1
as in talkative
fond of talking or conversation a garrulous boy who was in constant trouble for talking out of turn

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rambling
using or containing more words than necessary to express an idea now that he's in his anecdotage, Grandpa likes to tell garrulous, shaggy-dog accounts of his youthful misadventures

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How is the word garrulous different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of garrulous are loquacious, talkative, and voluble. While all these words mean "given to talk or talking," garrulous implies prosy, rambling, or tedious loquacity.

garrulous traveling companions

When is loquacious a more appropriate choice than garrulous?

The synonyms loquacious and garrulous are sometimes interchangeable, but loquacious suggests the power of expressing oneself articulately, fluently, or glibly.

a loquacious spokesperson

When can talkative be used instead of garrulous?

While the synonyms talkative and garrulous are close in meaning, talkative may imply a readiness to engage in talk or a disposition to enjoy conversation.

a talkative neighbor

When might voluble be a better fit than garrulous?

Although the words voluble and garrulous have much in common, voluble suggests a free, easy, and unending loquacity.

a voluble raconteur

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 garrulous Together, even when the cameras are off, the hosts are affable and garrulous, veering from one riff to another with the impish energy of drive-time radio hosts who monitor Rasmussen polling instead of batting averages. — Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 19 Feb. 2026 The show is narratively ambitious; social-media commenters have been quick to compare Rahma to Anthony Bourdain, a garrulous travelogue front man. — Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 10 June 2026 But let Stephen Adly Guirgis’s play introduce itself on its own terms, with its firm, enthusiastic handshake and garrulous demeanor (Guirgis has never been a playwright of few words), and the experience quickly endears itself. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 31 Mar. 2026 McDermott is a minor celebrity — a garrulous, 6′3″, 250lb-photographer with 30 years experience in conflict zones and disaster areas. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 29 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for garrulous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for garrulous
  1. talkative
  2. rambling
  3. exaggerated
  4. prolix
Adjective
  • The great speculators became talkative and communicative or dull, sullen, silent, and peevish.
    — Owen Lamont, Fortune, 2 July 2026
  • Doing this kind of work with other talkative animals, such as dolphins, would be much more difficult.
    — Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 26 June 2026
Definition of talkative
Adjective
  • Honeysuckle The warm, heady, floral scent of honeysuckle, which is strongest at dusk, is instantly recognizable, and the romantically rambling vines and tubular blooms make the climbing varieties cottage-garden classics.
    — Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 22 June 2026
  • Vocals have an offhand nonchalance instead of hogging the spotlight, melodies sneak up on you rather than announce themselves, and the guitars avoid crunchy riffs and overdriven twang in favor of tart rambling and clean supporting chords.
    — Reed Jackson, SPIN, 19 June 2026
Definition of rambling
Adjective
  • In the clip, the robot performs exaggerated, erratic movements, raising its arms into a martial arts-style fighting stance before lunging toward people around it.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 5 July 2026
  • There were new rules announced pre-tournament to minimise timewasting via exaggerated injuries or via substitutions.
    — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of exaggerated
Adjective
  • Even the blandest overtures can whip him into a frantic, pornographic, prolix ecstasy.
    — Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2026
  • The album is a concise, 10-song set, a deliberate contrast to prolix streaming-era albums like the ones released lately by Taylor Swift and Beyoncé.
    — Jon Pareles, New York Times, 17 May 2024
Definition of prolix

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garrulity
garrulous
garrulousness
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Cite this Entry

“Garrulous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/garrulous. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on garrulous

Nglish: Translation of garrulous for Spanish Speakers

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