wordless

adjective

word·​less ˈwərd-ləs How to pronounce wordless (audio)
1
: not expressed in or accompanied by words
a wordless picture book
2
: silent, speechless
sat wordless throughout the meeting
wordlessly adverb
wordlessness noun

Examples of wordless in a Sentence

he stood wordless before his accusers a wordless fondness for each other
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Then there was Radner’s wordless dance routine with Steve Martin—in which the pair toggles between all-out slapstick and total earnestness—that remains a higher form of comedy, even 50 years later. Adrienne Lafrance, The Atlantic, 15 Feb. 2025 The wordless film about a group of animals learning to coexist and work together on a small boat after a mysterious flood changes their world features some of the greatest character animation of animals the medium has ever seen. Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 13 Feb. 2025 But maybe the most titillating moment of all is the final tennis set — a wordless showdown that feels more like an emotional undressing than a championship match. Janey Tracey, EW.com, 7 Feb. 2025 The plot, which sees Chief Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) trying to find a new, safe space for the people and dragons of Berk, is oddly shaggy and weirdly paced, with perhaps a bit too much time spent on wordless dragon-mating rituals. James Grebey, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for wordless 

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of wordless was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near wordless

Cite this Entry

“Wordless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wordless. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

wordless

adjective
word·​less ˈwərd-ləs How to pronounce wordless (audio)
1
: not expressed in or having words
a wordless picture book
2
: silent sense 1, speechless
sat wordless throughout the meeting
wordlessly adverb
wordlessness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on wordless

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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