glib Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite marked by lack of intellectual depth
    • glib generalizations
    • a glib response to a complex question
  2. adjective satellite having only superficial plausibility
    pat; slick.
    • glib promises
    • a slick commercial
  3. adjective satellite artfully persuasive in speech
    smooth-tongued; glib-tongued.
    • a glib tongue
    • a smooth-tongued hypocrite

WordNet

Glib adjective
Etymology
Prob. fr. D. glibberen, glippen, to slide, glibberig, glipperig, glib, slippery.
Wordforms
comparative Glibber ; superlative Glibbest
Definitions
  1. Smooth; slippery; as, ice is glib. Obs.
  2. Speaking or spoken smoothly and with flippant rapidity; fluent; voluble; as, a glib tongue; a glib speech.
    I want that glib and oily art, To speak and purpose not. Shak.
    Syn. -- Slippery; smooth; fluent; voluble; flippant.
Glib transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To make glib. Obs. Bp. Hall.
Glib noun
Etymology
Ir. & Gael. glib a lock of hair.
Definitions
  1. A thick lock of hair, hanging over the eyes. Obs.
    The Irish have, from the Scythians, mantles and long glibs, which is a thick curied bush of hair hanging down over their eyes, and monstrously disguising them. Spenser.
    Their wild costume of the glib and mantle. Southey.
Glib transitive verb
Etymology
Cf. O. & Prov. E. lib to castrate, geld, Prov. Dan. live, LG. & OD. lubben.
Definitions
  1. To castrate; to geld; to emasculate. Obs. Shak.

Webster 1913