- not able to speak
- temporarily deprived of speech
- not expressed or able to be expressed in words: speechless fear
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
speech•less /ˈspitʃlɪs/USA pronunciation
adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- temporarily unable to use the power of speech because of fear, exhaustion, astonishment, etc.:She was speechless with anger.
speech•less
(spēch′lis),USA pronunciation adj.
speech′less•ly, adv.
speech′less•ness, n.
- temporarily deprived of speech by strong emotion, physical weakness, exhaustion, etc.:speechless with alarm.
- characterized by absence or loss of speech:speechless joy.
- lacking the faculty of speech;
dumb. - not expressed in speech or words:speechless compliments.
- refraining from speech.
- Middle English specheles, Old English spǣclēas. See speech, -less bef. 1000
speech′less•ness, n.
- 1. dumfounded, shocked, mute. See dumb. 3. silent, mute.
- 1. –3. loquacious, voluble, talkative.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
speechless /ˈspiːtʃlɪs/ adj
'speechless' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):