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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Where do the natural wonders of America’s wildlife in its mute creatures—the tortoises, birds, bumblebees, flowers, fish and forests—fit in the fiscal tug-of-war amid current political winners and losers?—
Noël Fletcher,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025 -
The man stared at the Ukrainian soldiers for a moment, attentive to the mouths of those mute men talking over each other.—
Samanta Schweblin,
The New Yorker,
26 Jan. 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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Even though arrests have been made, first-degree murder charges have been filed and the victim laid to rest, this case remains an incomprehensible display of human malice.—
Matt Lavietes,
NBC News,
8 Mar. 2025
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Upon agreement, their dialogue shifts to a series of sounds incomprehensible to humans.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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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
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At the climax of this bizarre collection of movements S… would let out a harsh, inarticulate cry.—
Caitlyn Murphy,
Hazlitt,
13 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Witnesses on the flight told authorities Augustin was stomping, yelling, shaking and being incoherent, the document continued.—
Jonathan Limehouse,
USA TODAY,
13 Mar. 2025
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At some point, the question about free will becomes hopelessly blurred and maybe even incoherent.—
Sean Illing,
Vox,
1 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Musk was silent on his X platform in the wake of Crawford’s victory, reposting a message about Vietnam and tariffs but nothing on the Supreme Court contest.—
Nicholas Riccardi,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2025
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While the Kardashians have remained publicly silent in response to his latest outburst, Ye’s ongoing battle with his former in-laws continues to play out in the public eye.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
2 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 8 Apr. 2025.
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