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View synonyms for speechless

speechless

[ speech-lis ]

adjective

  1. temporarily deprived of speech by strong emotion, physical weakness, exhaustion, etc.:

    speechless with alarm.

    Synonyms: mute

    Antonyms: talkative, voluble, loquacious

  2. characterized by absence or loss of speech:

    speechless joy.

    Antonyms: talkative, voluble, loquacious

  3. lacking the faculty of speech; dumb.

    Synonyms: mute, silent

    Antonyms: talkative, voluble, loquacious

  4. not expressed in speech or words:

    speechless compliments.

  5. refraining from speech.


speechless

/ ˈspiːtʃlɪs /

adjective

  1. not able to speak
  2. temporarily deprived of speech
  3. not expressed or able to be expressed in words

    speechless fear



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Derived Forms

  • ˈspeechlessly, adverb
  • ˈspeechlessness, noun

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Other Words From

  • speechless·ly adverb
  • speechless·ness noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of speechless1

before 1000; Middle English specheles, Old English spǣclēas. See speech, -less

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Example Sentences

I remember telling people when I moved here that I didn’t own a car and they were just like, horrified, speechless, aghast.

“Only time in four years I saw the students speechless,” said current Harvard Coach Tommy Amaker, a sophomore on that Duke team.

It was dangerous traffic and it left me speechless several times.

A couple was near the elevators, the woman struck speechless.

Like so many others I was left speechless by Clark’s passing when I read it on Facebook.

Ballinger was at first speechless when asked about the 75 Precinct reception.

Aside from a generous helping of boos, the audience was speechless.

“I am speechless and astounded, this sentence is inexplicable,” he said.

The couple appeared so awed by the rock that it left them feeling somewhat speechless.

There was no applause, no murmuring, no debate; the crowd was simply, utterly, absolutely speechless.

And as for the two girls, they were utterly speechless under the pressure of feeling.

That bunch of cottonwoods with the new-made grave close by the dead horses seemed to rise up between us, and I became speechless.

Her quiet eyes, held by his during the spell that had bound them speechless, did not flinch at the breaking of it.

She was still stunned and speechless with emotion when later she leaned over her friend to kiss her and softly say good-by.

The deacon sat on the floor, speechless now, staring down at all that remained to him of his timber leg.

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