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

Other Word Forms

• speechlessly adverb
• speechlessness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of speechless¹

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

Example Sentences

I watch, speechless, as the monster opens its mouth wider than I thought possible.

Read more on Literature

Miss Mortimer gave her a quizzical look, and the speechless Mrs. Apple drew a question mark in the air with her fingertip as a way of asking if everything was all right.

Read more on Literature

“I’m also speechless,” he says, “which is unusual.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"It was terrifying. It was so horrific that we were speechless," the 52-year-old said.

Read more on Barron's

"I'm still speechless. It came really as a huge surprise," he continued.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• amazed 
• dazed 
• dumb 
• silent