verklempt

[ ver-klempt, vuh-, fer-, fuh- ]

adjective

, Informal.

1. overly emotional and unable to speak:

   She got all verklempt at a press conference talking about a charity that matches actors and musicians with sick kids.

Word History and Origins

Origin of verklempt¹

First recorded in 1990–95; from Yiddish verklempt, farklempt “overcome with emotion,” past participle of verklem(m)en, farklem(m)en “to clamp (in a vise), pinch, choke, choke up,” from German verklemmt “inhibited, uptight,” literally, “pinched, squeezed,” past participle of verklemmen “to become stuck”

Example Sentences

The moment seemed to hit her like a wave halfway through, and she became visibly verklempt.

From New York Times

Brett announced that the winning team is Luciana and Buddha, which Buddha celebrates by noting that he is such a fan of Brett's and he "aspires to be him," which was such a meaningful moment and I'm sure resonated so much with Graham, who looked a bit verklempt after Buddha's glorifying admission.

From Salon

Those who have spent the decades since the landmark 1973 decision, which affirmed a constitutional right to abortion, working to nullify a pregnant person’s bodily autonomy, now seem flustered and verklempt as they vacillate between delight and an existential what-now.

From Washington Post

Comedy Central’s “Broad City” ended its five-season run in March, but its creators still feel a bit verklempt about it, judging from their appearance at a Los Angeles Times Envelope Live event this month.

From Los Angeles Times

“I’m getting verklempt now,” she said, looking away.

From New York Times