tongues

noun

plural of tongue
as in languages
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 tongues Occasionally eyebrows have been raised and tongues have clucked, as when Nancy Reagan splashed out on new china, but a simple and sober aesthetic has been maintained, as befits a democratic republic. — Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026 Even with the appeals and distractions of the intertidal world and a few early morning tongues of uni, our bags are still overflowing. — Joseph Ogilvy, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2026 The appointment comes at a time for Seyfried when her name is on the tips of many moviegoers’ tongues, but rather than spoil that now, click here for the full scoop. — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2026 These were then synthetically created and tested on both human and electronic tongues. — New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2026 Their long, barbed tongues can easily wind into ant and termite homes, licking up the bugs inside. — Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 4 Oct. 2026 The President of the United States (John Goodman) and his cabinet of hawkish generals, gargoyle-ish officials, and speaking-in-tongues spiritual advisors gather at the oilman’s house to discuss next steps. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 Sep. 2026 Some Republicans are no longer holding their tongues about their concerns with Collins or his campaign. — Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 23 Sep. 2026 Mesh on the tongues ensures their breathability, and the simple off-white and black combination will be a breeze to style. — Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 17 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tongues
  1. languages
  2. vocabularies
  3. dialects
  4. idioms
Noun
  • Opponents say that the constitutional amendment stream-rolls subtlety allowed under state law, like teaching foreign languages in public schools.
    — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The guide must be posted in English, Spanish and other languages that are spoken by employees.
    — Steven M. Frederick, Hartford Courant, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of languages
Noun
  • Yet a 2023 Stanford study said that Pangram was biased against non-native English speakers, who might have more limited vocabularies, and many AI researchers contend that such detectors are unreliable.
    — Cameron Pugh, Christian Science Monitor, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Chinese law schools have accordingly placed greater weight on teaching Chinese students to argue using the vocabularies of foreign legal systems.
    — Mark Jia, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of vocabularies
Noun
  • Born from the international slave trade during the 18th century, the hybrid language primarily blended the French spoken by colonists and slavers with multiple West African dialects, particularly from the Senegambian region.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 3 Nov. 2026
  • But hearing that sweet murder-durder voice spring ferth from Ray Donovan is, quite frankly, werth the price of admission for those of us holding an outsized appreciation for actors attempting difficult regional dialects.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of dialects
Noun
  • There are always critics in all idioms whose goal is writing about something much bigger using a review to get there.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Cinema is, after all, a language, and Belgian filmmakers come from a country built on the need to understand language as a bridge—between its regions, its people, and its idioms.
    — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of idioms

Browse Nearby Words

tongueless
tongues
tongue-tied
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Cite this Entry

“Tongues.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tongues. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

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