as in language
the stock of words, pronunciation, and grammar used by a people as their basic means of communication
he spoke in a tongue that I didn't understand
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Recent Examples of tongue
This assortment also offers pain relief solutions from head to toe for headaches, bunion support and more, plus wellness hacks from a tongue scraper to compression gear.
—
ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026
Five interchangeable tips, including two standard jet heads, an orthodontic tip ideal for braces, a periodontal jet tip that's gentle on gums, and a tongue cleaner.
—Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 24 Mar. 2026
In the video, the snake flicks its tongue, a common sensory behavior used to detect chemical cues in the air and identify nearby prey or potential predators.
—Jasmine Mendez
follow, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
The Wild also acquired Tarasenko last summer knowing that Yurov could use a veteran Russian mentor in the locker room, and Kirill Kaprizov – who had not signed his whopping contract extension at the time – might feel more comfortable with another player who speaks his native tongue.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 21 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tongue
ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026
Five interchangeable tips, including two standard jet heads, an orthodontic tip ideal for braces, a periodontal jet tip that's gentle on gums, and a tongue cleaner.
—Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 24 Mar. 2026
In the video, the snake flicks its tongue, a common sensory behavior used to detect chemical cues in the air and identify nearby prey or potential predators.
—Jasmine Mendez
follow, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
The Wild also acquired Tarasenko last summer knowing that Yurov could use a veteran Russian mentor in the locker room, and Kirill Kaprizov – who had not signed his whopping contract extension at the time – might feel more comfortable with another player who speaks his native tongue.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 21 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tongue
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tongue
Noun
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Fifty languages are spoken by a dozen ethnic groups, which include my tribe, the Ogoni, the Ijaw (the delta’s largest ethnic group), as well as the Ilaje, Ibibio, Andoni, Itsekiri, and Urhobo peoples.—
Noo Saro-Wiwa,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
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His presence is especially visible around the March 31 César Chávez Day, with the state Department of Education offering extensive lesson plans, biographies in multiple languages, and service-learning activities.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The fact that the same software enabled such a range of idiosyncratic styles decisively undermines any claim of a causal relationship between Gehry’s digital tools and his formal vocabulary.—
Julian Rose,
Artforum,
26 Mar. 2026
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Ehrlich’s contributions to that vocabulary proved far more durable than his predictions.—
Brian C. Keegan,
The Conversation,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Human communication with honeyguides in northern Mozambique occurs in local dialects.—
Rafil Kroll-Zaidi,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The gambit that Shelley somehow comes to possess her fictional creation is sustained, as Ida alternates between a very American dialect and a more high-toned British accent.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
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If the assignment is to translate something from a foreign language, there are plenty of tools and resources that can do it for you, including by recognizing and figuratively translating idioms.—
Ethan Siegel,
Big Think,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The centuries-old pot-kettle idiom points out hypocrisy — as when one person accuses another of a flaw that afflicts himself.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2026
Video
An Abbreviated History of American English Spelling
Soop, wimmen, and headake did not make the cut
Cite this Entry
“Tongue.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tongue. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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