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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tongue-tied
Adjective
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According to his family, Tony was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2022 and became mute when his larynx had to be removed.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
19 Apr. 2025 -
Other buttons include volume rockers, a mute button, Google Assistant, and more.—
Prakhar Khanna,
Forbes.com,
17 Apr. 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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Researching feels incomprehensible or inapplicable, especially as a business owner.—
Bree Manay,
Forbes.com,
17 Apr. 2025
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The answer may not be satisfying, but maybe that’s the point: the crime was always going to be incomprehensible.—
Bailey Seybolt,
People.com,
15 Apr. 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 Nancy, and Bobby’s friend Connie helped the Hills navigate a changing world.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
18 Apr. 2025
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From this, and similarly strong but inarticulate reactions, Haidt concluded that the students had arrived at their judgments impulsively.—
Elizabeth Kolbert,
The New Yorker,
13 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The protectionist defenses of them are so disjointed and incoherent that the reasons for their appeal are challenging to discern.—
Joseph Palange,
National Review,
16 Apr. 2025
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When King visited him there, Fitzgerald was drunk and incoherent.—
Ron Grossman,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The trick now is knowing where to go and which Muay Thai boxing schools, silent monasteries, or health spas to choose.—
Lee Cobaj,
Robb Report,
24 Apr. 2025
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Even more telling, there was virtually no difference in data consumption, battery use, and background activity between the audio room tests and the silent room tests.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
24 Apr. 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 1 May. 2025.
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