inarticulate Hear it!

inarticulate Definition

in·ar·ticu·late (in′är tik′yo̵̅o̅ lit, -yə-)

adjective

  1. produced without the normal articulation of understandable speech: said of vocal sounds an inarticulate cry
    1. not able to speak, as because of strong emotion; mute
    2. not able to speak understandably, effectively, or coherently
  3. not expressed or able to be expressed inarticulate passion
  4. Zool. without joints, segments, hinges, or valves

Etymology: LL inarticulatus: see in- & articulate

inarticulate Related Forms

in′·ar·tic′u·lately adverb in′·ar·tic′u·late·ness noun or in′·ar·tic′u·lacy

inarticulate Synonyms

inarticulate

modif.

  1. Mute

    reticent, wordless, mute, tongue-tied; see dumb 1, 2.

  2. Indistinct

    unintelligible, incoherent, garbled, vague; see incoherent 2, obscure 1.

inarticulate Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • cry: It is the vague, inarticulate, cry of nature, everywhere, always.
  • sound: His jaws opened, and he muttered some inarticulate sounds, while a grin wrinkled his cheeks.
  • brachiopod: The valves of inarticulate brachiopods are held together by muscles without a hinge.
  • rage: I'd comment further except it's hard to express inarticulate rage in writing.
  • noise: Just how many inarticulate noises would Jack come out with before he said what was on his mind?
  • moan: His companion gave an inarticulate moan and initiated a driving rhythm.

Modifying Another Word

  • almost: The prayer had come to be almost inarticulate, like the dying moan of a wounded beast in the forest.
  • emotionally: But it takes another ten years for his emotionally inarticulate father to welcome his partner.
  • completely: Mel from Suffolk Not all teenagers are completely inarticulate.
  • often: Presents Haig as a paradoxical figure taciturn, often inarticulate, but shrewd and ambitious.

Used with adjective complement

  • remain: Most of this remains inarticulate if nonetheless real and powerful.
  • grow: Suddenly the waiter seemed to grow inarticulate with a rush of words.