glibness

[/ˈɡlɪbnəs/]
noun
facilidade de fala; eloquência superficial; volubilidade
1. The quality of being fluent or voluble but insincere and shallow; smoothness of speech without depth or substance
The politician's glibness made people suspicious of his true intentions.
A facilidade de fala do político despertou suspeitas sobre suas verdadeiras intenções.
2. Lack of sincerity; glib remarks made without careful thought or genuine feeling
She dismissed his apology as mere glibness, not genuine remorse.
Ela descartou o pedido de desculpas dele como mera volubilidade, não como remorso genuíno.
In both American and Brazilian contexts, 'glibness' carries a negative connotation, suggesting dishonesty or manipulation through superficial charm. In Brazil, the related slang 'lábia' is frequently used in everyday speech to describe someone who uses smooth talk to deceive. The term is often associated with politicians, salespeople, and con artists who prioritize persuasion over truthfulness.
NYC Slang
gift of gab; smooth talker; BS artist
Synonyms / Sinônimos
fluencysuperficialityslicknessvolubilityfacundityglibberyinsincerity
Antonyms / Antônimos
sincerityearnestnessthoughtfulnesshesitationreservedness

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
facilidade de fala; eloquência superficial
Standard usage in contemporary Brazilian Portuguese
Rio de Janeiro
lábia; papo furado
Colloquial, informal expression for insincere or smooth talk
São Paulo
volubilidade; conversa fiada
More formal or casual depending on context
Portugal
facilidade de palavra; superficialidade
Portuguese usage emphasizes shallow eloquence

Related Words

glibgliblysmooth-talkingeloquencerhetoricsuperficial

Related Idioms & Phrases

to have the gift of the gab
smooth talk
empty words
all talk, no action
falar com lábia
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →