inarticulate
Americanadjective
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lacking the ability to express oneself, especially in clear and effective speech.
an inarticulate public speaker.
-
unable to use articulate speech.
inarticulate with rage.
-
not articulate; not uttered or emitted with expressive or intelligible modulations.
His mouth stuffed, he could utter only inarticulate sounds.
-
not fully expressed or expressible.
a voice choked with inarticulate agony.
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Anatomy, Zoology. not jointed; having no articulation or joint.
adjective
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unable to express oneself fluently or clearly; incoherent
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(of speech, language, etc) unclear or incomprehensible; unintelligible
inarticulate grunts
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unable to speak; dumb
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unable to be expressed; unvoiced
inarticulate suffering
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biology having no joints, segments, or articulation
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of inarticulate
From the Late Latin word inarticulātus, dating back to 1595–1605. See in- 3, articulate
Explanation
Use the adjective inarticulate to describe poor communication skills, like at your most inarticulate moments when you nervously fumble to find the right word and completely forget to make your most important point. Inarticulate sounds — a grunt, cry, scream, snort, wail, howl, moan, sob, snicker — are heard but not easily understood. If something is inarticulate, it is hard to get the meaning, like an inarticulate speech whose main idea can't be found. Creative works can also be inarticulate, when it isn't clear what — if anything — they are trying to express, like a painter whose gallery show that is called "inarticulate" by a critic: You can't grasp what the artist is trying to say.
Vocabulary lists containing inarticulate
Lord of the Flies
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"The Diary of Anne Frank," Vocabulary from the drama
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The Miracle Worker
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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.
Unfortunately, Greenspan’s inarticulate answer to a question about his regulatory philosophy was widely reported, and his definitive statement on the cause of the crisis wasn’t.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
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.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2024
He has suffered for us, in his endearingly inarticulate fashion.
From Salon ● Nov. 18, 2023
And they seek others who share their general, inarticulate uneasiness.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 22, 2023
Ben squatted before it, moaning, a slow, inarticulate sound.
From "The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
