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
As possessed people speak in foreign tongues and violence rises, Ahmed fears regaining memory, while the disciple fears his master’s decline may unleash an ancient evil.
—
Zac Ntim, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
Social media influencers may claim otherwise because gum chewing does strengthen certain masticatory muscles – particularly the masseter, tongue and cheek muscles – which can improve bite force and chewing performance.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025
His nephew is old enough to speak both tongues, but Ammon's nieces are still too young.
—Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025
There ’s Mother’s tongue and your eyes and me, my body, my bodies, my corporeality?
—Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tongue
Zac Ntim, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
Social media influencers may claim otherwise because gum chewing does strengthen certain masticatory muscles – particularly the masseter, tongue and cheek muscles – which can improve bite force and chewing performance.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2025
His nephew is old enough to speak both tongues, but Ammon's nieces are still too young.
—Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 26 Aug. 2025
There ’s Mother’s tongue and your eyes and me, my body, my bodies, my corporeality?
—Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tongue
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tongue
Noun
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The language was tacked on in a last-minute amendment just before the legislature adjourned for the 2024 session.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Sep. 2025
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Various exemptions for the requirement include having certain disabilities, having less than three years of formal English language learner instruction or receiving intensive support.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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For decades, BCIs were limited to toy demos and small vocabularies.—
Jason Snyder,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
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There was a clear vocabulary to define consent within OneTaste, but one witness after another spoke of pressure and powerlessness.—
Thessaly La Force,
New Yorker,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
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It is written in an almost stream-of-consciousness style, rather like someone reluctantly dredging up their memories, with random thoughts interrupting the narrative, long sentences sometimes running to over a page, little punctuation, and peppered with Kobe dialect.—
Ginny Tapley Takemori
September 4,
Literary Hub,
4 Sep. 2025
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The Cajun dialect is a very particular one.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Because the construction is a natural and graceful part of our English idiom.—
Richard Lederer,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Aug. 2025
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Human reviewers still refine idiom and theology, but the transformation in speed will be similar to the jump from quill to printing press.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Aug. 2025
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 9 Sep. 2025.
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