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

Derived Forms

• ˈspeechlessness, noun
• ˈspeechlessly, adverb

Other Words From

• speechless·ly adverb
• speechless·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of speechless¹

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

Example Sentences

“It was just, my heart dropped to my stomach. It’s just shocking, traumatic. ... Speechless. Just the range of emotions.”

From Los Angeles Times

“My heart dropped to my stomach. It’s just shocking, traumatic, like, wow. Speechless. Just the range of emotions.”

From Los Angeles Times

"He's the only one in the world that can do that. I'm speechless. It was unbelievable."

From BBC

Instead, the pair communicated using telegraph keys, joking that the 1882 technology left them "literally speechless".

From BBC

She recalls encountering viewers who, afterward, have been left speechless.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• amazed
• dazed
• dumb
• silent