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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That failure is symbolized most starkly in the mute dissolution of his own group, formed to help save Chicago from its pension morass but which instead silently acquiesced in making that threat markedly worse.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Aug. 2025 -
Split mode gives you separate monitor and mute controls for both inputs.—
Phil Nickinson,
PC Magazine,
11 Aug. 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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Some events, perhaps especially those that are morally incomprehensible, need to be wrestled with on a human level.—
Will Harris,
EW.com,
3 Aug. 2025
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Her scream resonated with the one in my chest while also being incomprehensible and beyond me.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 July 2025
Adjective
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As pompous actor Garry, Nehal Joshi aces the tough task of making his character’s halting, inarticulate speech sound authentic.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 July 2025
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My hands move around everywhere, my rhythm is very fast and inarticulate and often a bit wishy-washy.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
2 July 2024
Adjective
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Donald Trump took a break from serving as the leader of the free world on May 16 to write a borderline incoherent screed against Bruce Springsteen, just after the songwriter blasted him at the inaugural date of his 2025 European tour.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
19 May 2025
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And that a looser, messier, even seemingly incoherent set of choices with respect to point of view comes closer to the experience of consciousness, etc., something, something, non-Western narrative traditions, whatever, OK.—
Book Marks
July 17,
Literary Hub,
17 July 2025
Adjective
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But being silent and withdrawn is certainly not helpful either.—
Carolyn Rosenblatt,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
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Millions of Americans are ashamed of our country and our president but are either cowed or silent about stopping the eroding of our democracy.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Aug. 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 20 Aug. 2025.
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