Definitions

tongue-tied

[tuhng-tahyd] / ˈtʌŋˌtaɪd /

ADJECTIVE

unable to speak

Synonyms

STRONG

amazed astounded dazed dumbfounded garbled mute shocked shy stammering

WEAK

aghast at a loss for words bashful choked up dumbstruck inarticulate mum silent speechless uncommunicative voiceless

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Still others remained tongue-tied about the “quandary” at hand, as Florida Sen. Marco Rubio put it.

From Slate • Feb. 27, 2024

Giamatti watchers may have a hard time imagining the actor tongue-tied.

From New York Times • Jan. 7, 2024

Speech production is a complex neural phenomenon that has left researchers explaining it tongue-tied.

From Science Daily • Oct. 11, 2023

In particular, he described Jack Straw as being "mystifyingly tongue-tied" in one key UK/US meeting and labelled him as a B-list politician who was "more to be liked than admired".

From BBC • Jul. 28, 2022

I'm so tongue-tied that I can’t think of any of the dozen things I’ve saved up to tell Carla.

From "Before We Were Free" by Julia Alvarez

tongue-tied

Example Sentences

Related Words