Dumbness

Definitions

1. The state of being mute: that is, of not communicating vocally, whether from selective mutism (refusal to speak) or from an inability to speak.
   dated, offensive, uncountable, usually
2. Muteness, silence; abstention from speech.
   dated, uncountable, usually
3. Show or gesture without words; pantomime; dumb-show.
   dated, uncountable, usually
4. The quality of being stupid or foolish.
   informal, uncountable, usually

Equivalents

Examples

“He was a deaf-mute. His dumbness did not seem to matter⟳ when we were boys.”

“There was speech in their dumbness.”

“To the dumbness of the gesture one might interpret⟳.”

CEFR level