inarticulate

/,inɑ:'tikjulit/

Thân thiện

He let out an inarticulate cry of surprise.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Unable to express oneself clearly or fluently in speech: Describes a person who struggles to speak coherently or find the right words, often due to strong emotion, lack of skill, or a temporary condition.
   • Not clearly expressed or pronounced: Describes speech, sounds, or cries that are unclear, mumbled, or not fully formed.
   • Lacking the ability to speak; mute: In a broader or more literal sense, it can describe beings or things that are without speech.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • He was so overwhelmed with grief that he became completely inarticulate.
  • The witness gave a confused and inarticulate account of the accident.
  • She let out an inarticulate cry of pain.
  • The book argues that animals are not merely inarticulate beasts but have their own forms of communication.

Advanced Usage

• "inarticulate with [emotion]": Used to describe being unable to speak clearly due to a powerful feeling like rage, joy, or shock.
  • He was inarticulate with rage when he heard the news.
• Inarticulateness (noun): The state or quality of being inarticulate.
  • His inarticulateness in meetings often made his brilliant ideas hard to understand.

Variants and Related Words

• Inarticulately (adverb): In a manner that is not clear or fluent.
  • He muttered inarticulately and left the room.
• Articulate (adjective/verb): The direct antonym, meaning clear and effective in speech, or to express an idea clearly.

Synonyms

• Tongue-tied: Temporarily unable to speak, typically due to shyness or surprise.
• Mumbled: Spoken in a quiet and indistinct way.
• Faltering: Speaking in a hesitant or unsteady voice.
• Incoherent: Unable to be understood; unclear.

Antonyms

• Articulate: Having or showing the ability to speak fluently and coherently.
• Eloquent: Fluent or persuasive in speaking or writing.
• Fluent: Able to express oneself easily and articulately.

Related Phrases/Idioms

• At a loss for words: So surprised or emotional that one cannot think of anything to say. This is a common state leading to inarticulateness.
  • The award left her at a loss for words and momentarily inarticulate.
• Choke up: To become too emotional to speak.
  • He choked up and became inarticulate during his farewell speech.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. without or deprived of the use of speech or words
   • inarticulate beasts
   • remained stupidly inarticulate and saying something noncommittal
   • inarticulate with rage
   • an inarticulate cry

Từ đồng nghĩa

• unarticulate