inarticulate

¹in·ar·tic·u·late

adj \-kyə-lət\

Definition of INARTICULATE

1

a of a sound : uttered or formed without the definite articulations of intelligible speech b (1) : incapable of speech especially under stress of emotion : mute (2) : incapable of being expressed by speech <inarticulate fear> (3) : not voiced or expressed : unspoken <society functions on many inarticulate premises>

2

: incapable of giving coherent, clear, or effective expression to one's ideas or feelings

3

[New Latin inarticulatus, from Latin in- + New Latin articulatus articulate] : relating to, characteristic of, or being an inarticulate or its shell

— in·ar·tic·u·late·ly adverb

— in·ar·tic·u·late·ness noun

Examples of INARTICULATE

1. He's smart, but somewhat inarticulate.
2. I was almost inarticulate with rage.

Origin of INARTICULATE

Late Latin inarticulatus, from Latin in- + articulatus, past participle of articulare to utter distinctly — more at articulate

First Known Use: 1603

Related to INARTICULATE

Synonyms: mute, speechless, voiceless

Related Words: tongue-tied; incoherent, incomprehensible; closemouthed, laconic, reserved, reticent, taciturn, tight-lipped, uncommunicative; mum, nonspeaking, quiet, silent, wordless

Near Antonyms: blabby, chatty, communicative, expansive, gabby, garrulous, loquacious, talkative, talky, vocal; expatiating, speaking out, speaking up; articulating, speaking, talking; articulate, eloquent, fluent, voluble

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Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

ablaut, allusion, anacoluthon, diacritic, gerund, idiom, infinitive, metaphor, semiotics, simile