tongue-tied

[tuhng-tahyd]

adjective

1. unable to speak, as from shyness, embarrassment, or surprise.

2. affected with tongue-tie.

tongue-tied

adjective

1. speechless, esp with embarrassment or shyness

2. having a condition of tongue-tie

Word History and Origins

Origin of tongue-tied¹

First recorded in 1520–30; tongue + tie ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

Romy and Samuel have safe words, yet our own national conversation about sexual ethics gets tongue-tied whenever it tries to define right and wrong.

From Los Angeles Times

Make it five minutes,” the software would, in theory, be able to figure out what the tongue-tied person meant to say.

From Los Angeles Times

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

From New York Times

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

From Science Daily

“And not just Boyle Heights, but the whole district. It’s a pot of mixtures ...” she continued, then stopped, tongue-tied.

From Los Angeles Times