oh-BLEEK
His oblique comments about the merger made everyone uneasy.
Fun Fact
In geometry, an oblique line is one that is angled—not perpendicular or parallel. In conversation, it works the same way: someone being oblique is avoiding direct language. Politicians, poets, and diplomats often speak obliquely to suggest things without stating them outright.
glib
(adjective) Fluent and confident in speech, but shallow, insincere, or lacking thought.
His glib explanation sounded convincing, but it crumbled under basic questioning.
Mid 17th century: probably from Low German glibberig, meaning “slippery.”
Fun Fact
Glib is often used to describe people who are too quick with their words—especially when it feels rehearsed, dismissive, or disingenuous. Think of sales pitches that sound slick but empty, or politicians who talk around the truth with practiced ease. It’s not a compliment—glibness suggests style over substance, and the listener often walks away feeling talked at, not to.