Raconteur
n.joyful, capableliterary
What it means
A person skilled at telling stories in an engaging way.
Reach for it when praising a storyteller whose delivery holds a social audience
The old guide was a gifted raconteur who made every bend in the road memorable.
Choose between these
6- playful
spinner of tales
when warmth and imaginative flourish suit the setting
not when The phrase can hint at invention or unreliability.
- everyday
storyteller
when the broad act or craft of telling stories is enough
not when Storyteller includes writers and traditional narrators, while raconteur usually suggests lively spoken anecdotes.
- professional
narrator
when the role of presenting a story must be named neutrally
not when Narrator can be a technical role or fictional voice without social charm.
- formal
anecdotist
when short accounts of real incidents are the specialty
not when Anecdotist is rare and does not promise an entertaining delivery.
- formal
conversationalist
when wide-ranging social talk matters more than narrative
not when Conversational skill does not necessarily include shaping a good anecdote.
- literary
when clever humor is what captivates the listeners
not when A wit may shine through one-liners and never tell a sustained story.
Said against
3- bore
- mumbler
- listener
It naturally appears in
3- gifted raconteur
The gifted raconteur could turn a missed bus into a comic adventure.
- natural raconteur
A natural raconteur, she remembered the tiny detail that made each story vivid.
- raconteur with charm
The raconteur with charm invited others into the conversation instead of dominating it.