inarticulate

[in-ahr-tik-yuh-lit]

adjective

1. lacking the ability to express oneself, especially in clear and effective speech.

   an inarticulate public speaker.

2. unable to use articulate speech.

   inarticulate with rage.

   Synonyms: dumb, mute

3. not articulate; not uttered or emitted with expressive or intelligible modulations.

   His mouth stuffed, he could utter only inarticulate sounds.

4. not fully expressed or expressible.

   a voice choked with inarticulate agony.

5. Anatomy, Zoology.,  not jointed; having no articulation or joint.

inarticulate

/ ˌɪnɑːˈtɪkjʊlɪt /

adjective

1. unable to express oneself fluently or clearly; incoherent

2. (of speech, language, etc) unclear or incomprehensible; unintelligible

   inarticulate grunts

3. unable to speak; dumb

4. unable to be expressed; unvoiced

   inarticulate suffering

5. biology having no joints, segments, or articulation

Other Word Forms

• inarticulately adverb
• inarticulateness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of inarticulate¹

From the Late Latin word inarticulātus, dating back to 1595–1605. See in- ³, articulate

Example Sentences

The inarticulate betrayal in the film is that Todd isn’t making good decisions for anyone.

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“People always ask me, ‘Why did you play all those inarticulate guys?’

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In its least manageable moments, early motherhood must feel like an unpaid job with no breaks, an inarticulate boss and working conditions designed to strip all that’s civil from one’s sense of self.

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There’s more to this inarticulate cadet than his handsome exterior, though it will take some time for even the discerning Cyrano to recognize his subordinate’s distinction and to acknowledge his way with words.

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He accused her, in effect, of what’s known in other circles as being “inarticulate while Black.”

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Related Words

• incoherent