wordless

[ wurd-lis ]

adjective

1. speechless, silent, or mute.
2. not put into words; unexpressed.

ˈwordless

/ ˈwɜːdlɪs /

adjective

1. inarticulate or silent
2. music of or relating to vocal music that is not provided with an articulated text

   a wordless chorus

Derived Forms

• ˈwordlessly, adverb
• ˈwordlessness, noun

Other Words From

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of wordless¹

Middle English word dating back to 1150–1200; word, -less

Example Sentences

Indeed, these six justices’ extreme solicitude for Trump in last term’s appalling immunity decision stands in stark and alarming contrast with their bloodless, wordless dismissal of Williams’ final petition for relief.

From Slate

It is a canny performance, and both Moore and Qualley have extended wordless sequences where they convey so much of what they are thinking and feeling with just their silent expressions.

From Salon

On the Friday before the experience opened to the public, a gaggle of children gathered in wordless thrall to witness a maintenance worker repairing an engine overhead.

From Los Angeles Times

Last year’s wordless “Silent Night” showed the Hong Kong legend trying to get loud again with American audiences, except it didn’t go off as planned.

From Los Angeles Times

He asked permission to try it out in front of the London audience, before drifting into a wordless, intimate melisma.

From BBC

Related Words

• hidden
• implicit
• indirect
• latent
• lurking
• tacit
• unspoken