Communicating feeling, thought, or character with noticeable clarity.
Reach for it when praising a face, voice, movement, or artwork that conveys more than bare information
Her expressive reading made each character's hesitation distinct.
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday | |
| warm |
|
| professional | |
| formal | |
| literary |
playful
speaks volumes
Fits when a small sign conveys a great deal without words
Careful The idiom is a claim about interpretation and may assign feelings not actually known.
everyday
Fits when strong detail makes an image or account immediate
Careful Vividness concerns intensity and clarity, not necessarily inner feeling.
warm
Fits when lively face, voice, or movement carries the message
Careful Animation can be energetic while remaining emotionally shallow.
professional
Fits when ideas are stated clearly and coherently
Careful Articulate describes formulated thought more naturally than music, color, or gesture.
professional
communicative
Fits when willingness and ability to convey information matter
Careful A communicative person can speak often without emotional vividness.
formal
Fits when graceful clarity and persuasive force are present
Careful Eloquence belongs mainly to language and overstates a simple revealing glance.
literary
Fits when depth of feeling is the defining impression
Careful Soulful can romanticize a performer and is unsuitable for technical expression.
expressive face
The actor's expressive face revealed the decision before the dialogue did.
expressive voice
An expressive voice made the familiar poem feel newly urgent.
highly expressive
The spare charcoal line proved highly expressive without added color.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Neskaya, Southern California accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated
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