wordless

adjective

word·​less ˈwərd-ləs How to pronounce wordless (audio)
Synonyms of wordlessnext
1
: not expressed in or accompanied by words
a wordless picture book
2
: silent, speechless
sat wordless throughout the meeting
wordlessly adverb
wordlessness noun

Examples of wordless in a Sentence

he stood wordless before his accusers a wordless fondness for each other
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There may be fewer scenes in the Causeway oeuvre more chilling than a wordless opening when Kori (Emily Browning) gives a contemptuous once-over to the pile of greasy food in front of her at a pub while her boyfriend Nick (Jai Courtney) is fetching some pints. Stephen Saito, Variety, 16 Mar. 2026 As the setup cycles through cinematic tropes and makes its way to a predictable catfight over who’s the true domestic goddess, Banks is terrific at communicating Carol’s wordless rage, her workplace competitiveness having shifted to the home front. Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 16 Mar. 2026 Souza, a Grammy Award-winner with 15 solo albums to her credit, soars with equal ease whether singing heartfelt lyrics or wordless melodies. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026 The ten-minute video makes visible the repetitive labor of slow, wordless coiling. Anel Rakhimzhanova, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wordless

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of wordless was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Wordless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wordless. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

wordless

adjective
word·​less ˈwərd-ləs How to pronounce wordless (audio)
1
: not expressed in or having words
a wordless picture book
2
: silent sense 1, speechless
sat wordless throughout the meeting
wordlessly adverb
wordlessness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on wordless

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster