wordless

Meaning

1. Conveyed without the use of words; unspoken or unsaid.
2. Unable or unwilling to speak; dumb, silent or inarticulate.

Synonyms

mute

🔇

unspoken

speechless

silent

🔇

tongueless

tacit

tongue-tied

dumb

tightlipped

dumfounded

mum

nonverbal

inarticulate

understood

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: wordles

Cognate with Dutch: woordeloos

Cognate with German: wortlos

Cognate with Danish: ordløs

Cognate with Swedish: ordlös

Cognate with Icelandic: orðlaus

In summary

From Middle English wordles, equivalent to word + -less. Compare Dutch woordeloos (“speechless, inexpressible in words”), German wortlos (“silent, speechless”), Danish ordløs (“wordless”), Swedish ordlös (“wordless”), Icelandic orðlaus (“wordless, speechless”).