Describing a person who speaks indistinctly, unintelligibly, or with a stutter, often due to physical or neurological conditions, or sometimes simply through a lack of practice in speaking clearly. The term can refer to slurred speech, difficulties with articulation, or a general impediment to clear verbal communication. The implication is a challenge for others to understand the speaker. It's important to use this term with sensitivity, as it often relates to underlying medical or neurological conditions that require understanding and compassion.
Thick-tongued meaning with examples
- After his stroke, the patient was sadly left with thick-tongued speech, making it hard for him to convey his needs and wishes. His family worked tirelessly to understand him, and to help him work on his speech therapy to improve his communication.
- The anxious public speaker found himself becoming thick-tongued, his words tumbling out in a rush, making it hard to follow his train of thought, leaving him flustered and unable to calm himself as the speech carried on.
- The toddler, still learning to speak, was often thick-tongued, mispronouncing words in cute and confusing ways, which his parents found endearing as he worked to speak fluently as he grew older. He could now make himself understood.
- Due to the effects of anesthesia after the operation, her speech was noticeably thick-tongued, causing her to repeat what she said a couple of times to make sure it was clearly understood by everyone. The nurses monitored her as she came round from the sedation.
- The character in the novel had a naturally thick-tongued accent from his regional area, and the author described how his local vernacular impacted his pronunciation and the words he chose to express himself.
- The effects of a stroke had a severe impact on my friend's speech and left them thick-tongued. It takes great effort to communicate and share their thoughts. We learned to be patient and listen very carefully, though.
- The witness’s thick-tongued testimony was difficult for the court reporter to transcribe. The judge ordered the witness to speak slowly and clearly, which was difficult for the upset individual.
- Despite years of speech therapy, the man retained a thick-tongued quality to his speech. It wasn't a reflection of his intelligence but rather a physical challenge, which was difficult to deal with for him.
- Trying to speak after dental work can often make you thick-tongued for a short while until all feeling comes back to the mouth area. It’s usually a temporary inconvenience, making things a little bit harder.
- The actress, in her portrayal of a character with a severe neurological condition, delivered lines in a thick-tongued manner, using articulation and pauses to illustrate the challenges of the condition. She brought the struggles to life.