Garrulous vs Loquacious: What’s the Difference?
The difference at a glance
Loquacious simply means very talkative — the loquacious person speaks a great deal, often pleasantly. Garrulous adds a qualitative element: the garrulous person talks at length about trivial, unimportant, or rambling things. A loquacious person might be engaging; a garrulous one tends to exhaust the listener. Both talk more than most, but garrulous implies the talk itself isn't particularly worthwhile.
Example sentences are illustrative learning examples, not verified quotations.
What does Garrulous mean?
adjective · /ˈɡærələs/
Inclined to talk at excessive length, particularly about unimportant things; unable to stop speaking.
Explore GarrulousGarrulous in a sentence
The garrulous cab driver recounted his entire life story in twenty minutes.
She found his garrulous nature exhausting after the quiet of the countryside.
What does Loquacious mean?
adjective · /ləˈkweɪ.ʃəs/
Tending to talk a great deal; fond of talking; excessively talkative, sometimes to the point of being tiresome.
Explore LoquaciousLoquacious in a sentence
He became particularly loquacious after his second coffee, filling any pause with observation.
Her loquacious nature made her a natural fit for radio, where silence is the enemy.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Garrulous and Loquacious?
Loquacious simply means very talkative — the loquacious person speaks a great deal, often pleasantly. Garrulous adds a qualitative element: the garrulous person talks at length about trivial, unimportant, or rambling things. A loquacious person might be engaging; a garrulous one tends to exhaust the listener. Both talk more than most, but garrulous implies the talk itself isn't particularly worthwhile.
What does Garrulous mean?
Inclined to talk at excessive length, particularly about unimportant things; unable to stop speaking.
What does Loquacious mean?
Tending to talk a great deal; fond of talking; excessively talkative, sometimes to the point of being tiresome.