Raconteur
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.
Words to choose between 6
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday | |
| professional | |
| formal | |
| literary |
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playful
spinner of tales
Fits when warmth and imaginative flourish suit the setting
Careful The phrase can hint at invention or unreliability.
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everyday
storyteller
Fits when the broad act or craft of telling stories is enough
Careful Storyteller includes writers and traditional narrators, while raconteur usually suggests lively spoken anecdotes.
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professional
narrator
Fits when the role of presenting a story must be named neutrally
Careful Narrator can be a technical role or fictional voice without social charm.
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formal
anecdotist
Fits when short accounts of real incidents are the specialty
Careful Anecdotist is rare and does not promise an entertaining delivery.
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formal
conversationalist
Fits when wide-ranging social talk matters more than narrative
Careful Conversational skill does not necessarily include shaping a good anecdote.
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literary
Fits when clever humor is what captivates the listeners
Careful A wit may shine through one-liners and never tell a sustained story.
Opposites 3
- bore
- mumbler
- listener
Common phrases 3
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gifted raconteur
The gifted raconteur could turn a missed bus into a comic adventure.
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natural raconteur
A natural raconteur, she remembered the tiny detail that made each story vivid.
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raconteur with charm
The raconteur with charm invited others into the conversation instead of dominating it.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: EncycloPetey, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated