# speechless

/ˈspitʃɫəs/ (US) · /spˈiːtʃləs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/speechless
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. unable to speak from emotion

adjective · CEFR B2

unable to speak because you are very shocked, surprised, or angry.

For teachers: temporarily unable to speak, especially as a result of a strong emotional reaction such as shock, amazement, or indignation.

- The surprise party was so unexpected that it left her completely speechless.
- The witness was momentarily speechless after the prosecutor presented the incriminating evidence that contradicted his earlier testimony.

Usage: Often follows verbs like 'leave', 'remain', or 'be'.

### 2. too bad to be described

adjective · CEFR C2 · Literary · Archaic

so bad or shocking that it is impossible to describe with words.

For teachers: beyond the power of description; used to describe something so extreme or horrific that language fails.

- The survivors spoke of the speechless horrors they witnessed during the war.
- The poet struggled to find metaphors for the speechless beauty of the mountain range at sunset.

Usage: In modern English, 'unspeakable' is much more common for this meaning.

## Examples

- The surprise party left her completely speechless.
- When the judge announced the winner, the young artist stood speechless on the stage for several seconds.
- The sheer audacity of the proposal left the board members speechless, as they had expected a much more conservative strategy for the upcoming fiscal year.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.