inarticulate

American  

[in-ahr-tik-yuh-lit] / ˌɪn ɑrˈtɪk yə lɪt /

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.

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inarticulate British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• inarticulately adverb
• inarticulateness noun

Etymology

Origin of inarticulate

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

Example Sentences

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.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 6, 2024

He has suffered for us, in his endearingly inarticulate fashion.

From Salon • Nov. 18, 2023

Young and reckless, existential and inarticulate, hopeful and hopeless.

From New York Times • Mar. 8, 2023

And they seek others who share their general, inarticulate uneasiness.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 22, 2023

Sefia tried to shut out the sound of them but their inarticulate cries engulfed her, rushing under her skin.

From "The Reader" by Traci Chee

Related Words

• incoherent