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
In this production, the Hispanic Romeo can only speak his native tongue at home and is reprimanded by his cousin Benvolio for daring to do so anywhere else.
—
Juan A. Ramírez, Vogue, 20 May 2026
The words rolled right off his tongue.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 May 2026
Maldonado is well-known in Miami for hosting intense services at his West Kendall church that often involve speaking in tongues and channeling the Holy Spirit.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 19 May 2026
Pros & Cons Since his Super Nintendo debut, Yoshi has made a name for himself as much more than Mario's tongue-flinging steed.
—Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tongue
Juan A. Ramírez, Vogue, 20 May 2026
The words rolled right off his tongue.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 May 2026
Maldonado is well-known in Miami for hosting intense services at his West Kendall church that often involve speaking in tongues and channeling the Holy Spirit.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 19 May 2026
Pros & Cons Since his Super Nintendo debut, Yoshi has made a name for himself as much more than Mario's tongue-flinging steed.
—Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tongue
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tongue
Noun
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Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong apologized for using vulgar language in a heated exchange with a fan during Sunday’s loss to the Chicago White Sox.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
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In 1996, Fuhrman pleaded no contest to perjury for falsely denying his use of racist language.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 May 2026
Noun
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Adding complexity, these disparate systems don’t always use the same vocabulary.—
Sarah Jones,
Footwear News,
22 May 2026
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Each has its own vocabulary, grammar, and intellectual flavor.—
Konstantin Kakaes,
Quanta Magazine,
20 May 2026
Noun
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Yet Cornelius Krull, the patriarch, speaks only a German dialect and never utters more than two words.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
14 May 2026
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Many older residents speak not just Italian and Croatian, but also a local dialect derived from Old Venetian and Old Croatian.—
Kevin West,
Travel + Leisure,
8 May 2026
Noun
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And why in the world would anyone composing after the Second World War reëmbrace the long-irrelevant late-Romantic idiom of Puccini and Strauss, with its lush harmonies, rich orchestration, and powerful melodies?—
Russell Platt,
New Yorker,
20 May 2026
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These days, Andersen has the idioms flying in Carolina’s locker room.—
Sean Gentille,
New York Times,
14 May 2026
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 24 May. 2026.
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