as in mute
unable to speak because you are nervous or shy
She became tongue-tied whenever he was around. He gets tongue-tied in front of crowds.
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tongue-tied
Adjective
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There was a great deal of laughter among everyone on the call, but Moore did have to go on mute to save everyone else from listening to Miller's snoring.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025 -
The Silent Sinner, made by Campanacci’s CampanacCinema Studios, is mostly silent — Skrzynecka’s femme fatale is both deaf and mute — relying on music and montage to hold the audience’s attention.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In helicopter video taken by Air Maui Helicopter Tours in Lahaina and posted online the people aboard are largely speechless.—
Phil Helsel,
NBC News,
10 Aug. 2023
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Because his work, as is often the case, leaves us almost speechless.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Jan. 2023
Adjective
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In fact, the movie isn’t really scary at all — just extremely weird, as well as increasingly incomprehensible toward the end.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Sep. 2025
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Then there’s an incomprehensible scene in which Stuhlbarg’s Frederik storms in and out of the kitchen angrily, having turned his music up to an unlistenable volume, while Alma and Maggie—a guest in their home that evening—try to have a serious conversation.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Hank’s friends – conspiracy theorist Dale, military barber Bill, and cool but inarticulate Boomhauer, along with Peggy’s friends Minh and meteorologist Nancy, and Bobby’s friend Connie helped the Hills navigate a changing world.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
12 Aug. 2025
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The root conveys a sense of emitting a deep, inarticulate sound of distress.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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As the spice levels rise, sweat starts to bead, faces flush, and answers descend into incoherent yelps.—
Diana Hubbell,
Popular Science,
10 Sep. 2025
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In 2010, Shannan Gilbert placed a frantic and incoherent 911 call, begging for help and claiming someone was after her.—
Michael Ruiz , Jennifer Johnson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Owners also must have measures in place to ensure that cannabis is not stolen or diverted, including programs to track each piece of cannabis that enters and leaves their store, as well as more traditional security systems, such as video-surveillance systems and a silent alarm.—
Nicholas Florko,
The Atlantic,
16 Sep. 2025
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If any police ask you questions ask for a lawyer and stay silent.—
Joshua Rhett Miller
Jesus Mesa
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Tongue-tied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tongue-tied. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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