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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Which are, of course, typically mute within fashion exhibitions.—
Rachel Elspeth Gross,
Forbes,
21 Feb. 2025 -
Rumors about the couple dating began to surface in 2024 prior to the Paris Olympic games but both athletes have been mute about the status of their relationship until now.—
Elizabeth Ayoola,
Essence,
20 Feb. 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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In a twist that’s almost incomprehensible today, the Chinese government even officially adopted the US State Department’s method for reporting air quality.—
Zeyi Yang,
WIRED,
5 Mar. 2025
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This defendant’s actions are incomprehensible, and he will be held accountable.—
Stepheny Price,
Fox News,
18 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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That is as incoherent as embracing folks who beat up police officers.—
Gary Franks,
Hartford Courant,
1 Mar. 2025
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Europe still needs to define its response to avoid being squeezed between incoherent U.S. policies and China’s responsive maneuvers.—
Arancha González Laya,
Foreign Affairs,
6 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The writer was directed to a secret Disney warehouse where he was confronted with a Baby Yoda robot that was able to respond to him, including seeming disappointed when the writer was silent.—
William Lambers,
Newsweek,
8 Mar. 2025
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That's not the only problem with the silent update, though.—
Ryan Whitwam,
Ars Technica,
6 Mar. 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 13 Mar. 2025.
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