loudmouth: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

B2
UK/ˈlaʊd.maʊθ/US/ˈlaʊd.maʊθ/

Informal, slightly derogatory, colloquial.

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Quick answer

What does “loudmouth” mean?

A person who talks too much, especially in a noisy, boastful, or indiscreet way.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A person who talks too much, especially in a noisy, boastful, or indiscreet way.

A person who habitually reveals secrets, expresses opinions loudly without consideration, or tries to dominate conversations in a disruptive manner.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Both varieties use the term identically in form and core meaning. No significant syntactic or morphological differences.

Connotations

Equally negative in both dialects. Possibly perceived as slightly more humorous or less harsh than direct insults like 'idiot'.

Frequency

Common and well-established in both varieties, with comparable frequency in informal contexts.

Grammar

How to Use “loudmouth” in a Sentence

[be] a loudmouth[call someone] a loudmouth[stop being] a loudmouth[dismiss someone as] a loudmouth

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
big loudmouthobnoxious loudmouthtown loudmouthignorant loudmouthpolitical loudmouth
medium
real loudmouthtypical loudmouthannoying loudmouthknown loudmouthoffice loudmouth
weak
old loudmouthlocal loudmouthloudmouth guysuch a loudmouthcomplete loudmouth

Examples

Examples of “loudmouth” in a Sentence

verb

British English

  • The verb 'loudmouth' is not standard in British English.

American English

  • The verb 'loudmouth' is non-standard; one might say 'He was loudmouthing about his new car.' but it is colloquial/rare.

adverb

British English

  • No standard adverbial form. 'He talked loudmouthedly' is highly non-standard.

American English

  • No standard adverbial form. 'He behaved loudmouthedly' is not accepted usage.

adjective

British English

  • He's just another loudmouth pundit on the telly.
  • We're tired of his loudmouth antics.

American English

  • That loudmouth commentator gets on my nerves.
  • It was another loudmouth opinion from a know-it-all.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Avoid using in formal reports; may appear in informal complaints about colleagues. (e.g., 'We can't have a loudmouth leaking the merger details.')

Academic

Rare; might appear in informal commentary on historical figures or literary characters, not in technical writing.

Everyday

Very common in casual speech to describe annoying, boastful, or indiscreet people.

Technical

Not used.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “loudmouth”

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “loudmouth”

quiet personintrovertlistenerreserved persontaciturn individual

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “loudmouth”

  • Using it as a verb (e.g., 'He loudmouthed the secret' is non-standard). Using it in overly formal contexts. Confusing it with 'loudspeaker'.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, it is informal and derogatory. It is an insult, implying the person is annoying, boastful, or indiscreet. Use with caution.

No, 'loudmouth' is standardly only a noun (or attributive adjective). Using it as a verb (e.g., 'to loudmouth') is highly informal, non-standard, and rare.

A 'loudmouth' focuses on the noisy, unrestrained, and often boastful manner of speaking. A 'gossip' focuses more on the content—discussing private, often sensational details about others. A loudmouth might gossip, but they might also just talk loudly about themselves.

No, the term is inherently negative. More neutral or positive terms for someone who talks a lot include 'talkative', 'communicative', 'expressive', or 'gregarious'.

A person who talks too much, especially in a noisy, boastful, or indiscreet way.

Loudmouth is usually informal, slightly derogatory, colloquial. in register.

Loudmouth: in British English it is pronounced /ˈlaʊd.maʊθ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈlaʊd.maʊθ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • His bark is worse than his bite, but he's still a loudmouth.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Picture a person with an enormous, gaping mouth from which loud sound waves are visibly blasting. The word is a compound of 'loud' + 'mouth'.

Conceptual Metaphor

THE MIND IS A CONTAINER (words are contents); LOUDNESS IS LACK OF CONTROL / FOOLISHNESS.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
I wish he'd stop .
Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes a 'loudmouth'?