Glibly

Part of speech: adverb

Pronunciation: /ˈɡlɪbli/

Definitions

1. Spoken in a smooth and fluent manner that lacks sincerity or depth of thought
2. Speaking in a manner that is smooth and persuasive while lacking genuine emotion or depth is often referred to as this
3. In a manner characterized by effortless fluency that suggests a lack of serious consideration or honesty

Etymology: "Glibly" is about as plain as English derivation gets: it is the adverb of "glib" with the ordinary adverb ending "-ly" added. The useful question is where "glib" itself came from, and the answer is less tidy than the word's modern sense suggests. "Glib" first appeared in English as an adjective meaning smooth or slippery, the sense of something that slides easily, and it still carries that physical picture in the notion of a glib surface. Its precise origin is uncertain, and it is usually connected with Low German or Dutch words for smooth or slippery, though the source for this document does not settle the matter, so the connection should be treated as a suggestion rather than established fact. The shift from slippery to fluent happened by metaphor. A person whose speech slides along without catching on anything seems effortless, and when that ease comes from having no need to think carefully, it starts to look like insincerity. So "glibly" describes speaking or arguing with polished ease that owes more to smoothness than to substance. The word keeps its original physical sense of frictionless motion, now applied to the tongue.

Synonyms: smoothly, easily, fluently, readily, slickly

Antonyms: hesitantly, clumsily, awkwardly, laboriously, inflexibly