speechlessness

/ˈspiːtʃləsnəs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈspiːtʃləsnəs/ (ame, ipa)

speechlessness — 名詞

1. a short period when surprise, anger, or another strong emotion takes away your a

1.名詞C2
釋義

啞口無言

因震驚或憤怒而暫時說不出話

a short period when surprise, anger, or another strong emotion takes away your ability to speak

例句

Lakshmi's speechlessness lasted several seconds after she opened the job offer email.

Lakshmi 打開那封工作錄取信後，啞口無言了好幾秒。

pattern: someone's speechlessness after + event

The whole hall fell into speechlessness when the winner collapsed onstage.

得獎者在台上突然倒下時，整個會場一下子都啞口無言。

pattern: fall into speechlessness

同義詞
  • silence

    More general and often chosen, while 'speechlessness' specifically comes from emotion stopping speech.

  • shock

    Names the emotional reaction itself, not necessarily the resulting inability to answer.

  • astonishment

    Focuses on surprise, while 'speechlessness' highlights being unable to say anything.

文法句型

someone's speechlessness

speechlessness after/at + event

reduce someone to speechlessness

fall into speechlessness

用法筆記

Often used for a visible reaction to sudden news, praise, or hurtful words, and it usually suggests a brief silence rather than a long inability to speak. Distinguish it from 'silence': silence can be calm or deliberate, while speechlessness implies that emotion has stopped the person from answering.

常見錯誤

❌The library was full of speechlessness during the exam.
✅The library was full of silence during the exam.
💡'speechlessness' is an emotional inability to speak, not ordinary quiet.
❌I was speechlessness after the announcement.
✅I was speechless after the announcement.
💡after 'be', use the adjective 'speechless'; the noun names the state itself.