tongue-tied

[ tuhng-tahyd ]

adjective

1. unable to speak, as from shyness, embarrassment, or surprise.
2. affected with tongue-tie.

tongue-tied

adjective

1. speechless, esp with embarrassment or shyness
2. having a condition of tongue-tie

Word History and Origins

Origin of tongue-tied¹

First recorded in 1520–30; tongue + tie ( def ) + -ed ²( def )

Example Sentences

Make it five minutes,” the software would, in theory, be able to figure out what the tongue-tied person meant to say.

From Los Angeles Times

Giamatti watchers may have a hard time imagining the actor tongue-tied.

From New York Times

Speech production is a complex neural phenomenon that has left researchers explaining it tongue-tied.

From Science Daily

“And not just Boyle Heights, but the whole district. It’s a pot of mixtures ...” she continued, then stopped, tongue-tied.

From Los Angeles Times

During our studio visit, Bradford turned uncharacteristically tongue-tied when he tried to articulate the sculpture’s relationship to that period.

From New York Times