wordless

adjective

word·​less ˈwərd-ləs 

1

: not expressed in or accompanied by words

a wordless picture book

2

: silent, speechless

sat wordless throughout the meeting

wordlessly adverb

wordlessness noun

Synonyms of wordless

• silent
• speechless
• mute
• muted

Examples of wordless in a Sentence

he stood wordless before his accusers

a wordless fondness for each other

Recent Examples on the Web

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, 17 Apr. 2026

In Fleabag, the brief—wordless—look into the camera reveals conflicting emotions. —Literary Hub, 7 Apr. 2026

All three contribute airy, wordless vocals, often just overlapping coos or melodic murmurs, that give the atmospheric strings real contours and depths. —Reed Jackson, SPIN, 19 Mar. 2026

When the first hook comes back around after Earl’s slinky verse, Niontay’s staccato punchlines lose all shape and melt into a putty of wordless, gurgling melody. —Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 19 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

wordless

adjective

word·​less ˈwərd-ləs 

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