wordless

/'wə:dlis/

Thân thiện

A child's wordless joy shines on her face.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Expressed without speech; silent: Describes something communicated or conveyed without the use of words, often through gestures, expressions, or actions.
   • Temporarily unable to speak: Describes a state where a person is so overcome by emotion (e.g., shock, awe, grief) that they are rendered speechless.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • She gave him a wordless look of understanding. (Her expression conveyed understanding without any spoken words.)
  • The wordless scene in the film was incredibly powerful. (The silent part of the movie conveyed deep emotion without dialogue.)
  • He was wordless with shock after hearing the news. (He was so shocked he couldn't speak.)

Advanced Usage

• "Wordless communication": Communication that occurs without spoken or written language, such as through body language, eye contact, or art.
  • Their wordless communication was so strong they often knew what the other was thinking.
• "Wordless narrative": A story told entirely through images, music, or actions, without any text or dialogue.
  • The picture book told a wordless narrative that children could interpret in their own way.

Variants and Related Words

• Wordlessly (adverb): In a manner without words.
  • He nodded wordlessly in agreement.
• Speechless (adjective): Similar to "wordless," often emphasizing a temporary inability to speak due to strong emotion.
• Tacit (adjective): Implied or understood without being directly stated. (More formal, often referring to agreements or knowledge.)

Synonyms

• Silent: Making no sound; not speaking.
• Mute: Refraining from speech; unable to speak.
• Unspoken: Not expressed in speech; tacit.
• Tongueless: (Literary) Lacking speech or the power of speech.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• Beyond words: So intense that it cannot be adequately described with language, often leading to a wordless state.
  • The beauty of the landscape was beyond words.
• At a loss for words: Unable to speak because of surprise, confusion, or strong emotion. (This describes the person's state, while "wordless" can describe the state or the communication itself.)
  • The tribute left everyone at a loss for words.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. expressed without speech
   • a mute appeal
   • a silent curse
   • best grief is tongueless- Emily Dickinson
   • the words stopped at her lips unsounded
   • unspoken grief
   • choking exasperation and wordless shame- Thomas Wolfe

Từ đồng nghĩa

• mute
• tongueless
• unspoken