TONGUE-TIED Synonyms: 38 Similar and Opposite Words

tongue-tied

adjective

Definition of tongue-tied

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

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.

Recent Examples of tongue-tied My two companions—one of whom was Alabaster—seemed a bit tongue-tied. — Literary Hub, 22 July 2026 But on April 24, Stanford got tongue-tied when asked to explain her position on abolishing ICE. — David Weigel, semafor.com, 18 May 2026 At times, Raman was tongue-tied trying to answer simple questions. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tongue-tied

Adjective

Although networks must understand that the audience could truly just press the mute button and watch in silence, the contracts for these broadcasters keep getting sillier and sillier.

— Candace Buckner, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Equipped with the master sword and the Hylian Shield straight out the video game, Rosenauer tried to stay mute just like his character.

— Rashad Alexander August 31, Kansas City Star, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of mute

Adjective

By the end, the audience is left almost speechless — and still thinking about this singular, deeply original performance long after Lyons has left the stage.

— Rebecca Rosman, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026
His friends, from brother Luigi (Charlie Day) to Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) veer in a similar direction, somehow coming across less fully formed and three-dimensional than their nearly speechless inspirations from Nintendo‘s flagship franchise.

— Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 31 Mar. 2026

Definition of speechless

Adjective

Of all the awful plays the Carolina defense made Sunday in a 59-37 loss to the Chicago Bears, two of the most incomprehensible came from one of their best and smartest players.

— Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 13 Sep. 2026
The first two interceptions weren’t great, but the third one was truly incomprehensible.

— Chad Graff, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of incomprehensible

Adjective

The cloud was blank and inarticulate, a monolith with no secrets to reveal to any of its human witnesses.

— Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026
Just as between them William James and Michael Oakeshott told us that there is no such thing as unmediated experience, so, surely, there is no such thing as inarticulate thought.

— Richard Lansdown, The New York Review of Books, 25 June 2026

Definition of inarticulate

Adjective

Experts say the campaign has been fragmented and incoherent, with policy questions such as how healthcare should be organized drowned out by the question of which parties will be able to put together a government.

— ABC News, ABC News, 11 Sep. 2026
That all happens within the first 15 seconds; the remainder of the ad is more or less incoherent.

— Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of incoherent

Adjective

While his craft transformed a silent battle into celebrated wearable art, Damon is open about the fact that healing is an ongoing journey.

— La'Tasha Givens, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026
Sylvia Sims Bolton, 1st Ward, is remaining silent about both her criminal case and her future political plans.

— Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of silent

Browse Nearby Words

tongues

tongue-tied

tonic

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“Tongue-tied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tongue-tied. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of tongue-tied

adjective

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