noun
dumbness
Dumbness (noun) means the condition of not speaking, either because someone refuses to or because they are unable to.
noun
1
The condition of not speaking, either because someone refuses to or because they are unable to.
"He was a deaf-mute. His dumbness did not seem to matter when we were boys."
— Emily Carr, Sissy's Job (1944)
2
Silence, or a refraining from speaking.
3
A performance using only gestures and actions, with no words.
4
The quality of being silly or lacking sense.
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like dumbness.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Etymology
Dumbness came into English from Middle English dombenesse, which developed from Old English dumbnes; it is equivalent to dumb + -ness. It is cognate with Old Frisian dumbnisse, meaning ‘folly, dumbness’.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for dumbness
See all rhymes for dumbness →Frequently asked questions
What is the meaning of dumbness?
"dumbness" (noun) means the condition of not speaking, either because someone refuses to or because they are unable to.
What is another word for dumbness?
Other words for "dumbness" include denseness.
What is the opposite of dumbness?
The opposite of "dumbness" is intelligence.
What are the different meanings of dumbness?
"dumbness" has 3 main meanings: 1. The condition of not speaking, either because someone refuses to or because they are unable to; 2. Silence, or a refraining from speaking; 3. A performance using only gestures and actions, with no words.
