stammer
Trip over words
To stammer is to speak with involuntary pauses and repetitions, often from nervousness or a speech disorder: He stammered through his wedding vows.
A stammer is the condition itself or an instance of it: She has a slight stammer.
Unlike a stutter, which repeats sounds, a stammer suggests halting, blocked speech—though the words often overlap.
Lose footing momentarily
- falterLose momentum or steadiness
- sputterEmit irregular popping sounds
- splutterSpeak confusedly, in bursts
- blockSolid mass, or impede
repetition · prolongation · hesitation · broken speech · halting · choppy · jerky · uneven
Temporary cessation of activity
- falterLose momentum or steadiness
- waverHesitate or fluctuate
- tentativeUncertain and provisional
- haltingMarked by hesitation
unsure · groping · searching · uncertain · doubtful · reluctant · hedging · stumbling
Treatment for communication disorders
- dysfluencyDisrupted speech pattern
- articulationClear vocal expression
- fluencySmooth linguistic command
- phonationVocal fold vibration
speech pathologist · cluttering · blocks · repetitions · intervention · treatment · therapy · exercises
Involuntary muscle contraction
- ticInvoluntary repetitive movement
- twitchInvoluntary muscular jerk
- reflexInvoluntary stimulus response
- neurologicalOf the nervous system
muscle tension · laryngeal · diaphragm · vocal cords · uncontrollable · automatic · spasmodic · block
Persistent apprehensive distress
- embarrassmentSelf-conscious unease
- self-consciousUncomfortably aware of oneself
- awkwardLacking grace or ease
- tensionStretched or strained state
stress · apprehension · shyness · insecurity · nervousness · panic · timidity · intimidation
Defeated by sheer volume
- flusteredNervously upset and confused
- agitatedEmotionally disturbed, restless
- upsetDisturb, topple, or shock
- distressedSuffering emotional turmoil
excited · angry · frustrated · tearful · choked up · overcome · distraught · shaken
stumble
Lose footing momentarily
- falterLose momentum or steadiness
- sputterEmit irregular popping sounds
- splutterSpeak confusedly, in bursts
block · repetition · prolongation · hesitation · broken speech · halting · choppy · jerky · uneven · disrupted
pause
Temporary cessation of activity
halting · unsure · groping · searching · uncertain · doubtful · reluctant · hedging · stumbling · struggling
speech therapy
Treatment for communication disorders
- dysfluencyDisrupted speech pattern
- articulationClear vocal expression
- fluencySmooth linguistic command
phonation · speech pathologist · cluttering · blocks · repetitions · intervention · treatment · therapy · exercises · techniques
spasm
Involuntary muscle contraction
- ticInvoluntary repetitive movement
- twitchInvoluntary muscular jerk
- reflexInvoluntary stimulus response
neurological · muscle tension · laryngeal · diaphragm · vocal cords · uncontrollable · automatic · spasmodic · block · constriction
anxiety
Persistent apprehensive distress
- embarrassmentSelf-conscious unease
- self-consciousUncomfortably aware of oneself
- awkwardLacking grace or ease
tension · stress · apprehension · shyness · insecurity · nervousness · panic · timidity · intimidation · unease
overwhelmed
Defeated by sheer volume
- flusteredNervously upset and confused
- agitatedEmotionally disturbed, restless
- upsetDisturb, topple, or shock
distressed · excited · angry · frustrated · tearful · choked up · overcome · distraught · shaken · moved
- recitation mistakesstumble, flub, blank, brain freeze, wrong word
- speech disordersdysarthria, slurred speech, lisp, aphasia, speech impediment
- speech issueslisp, slurring, mumbling, mispronunciation, speech impediment
- disfluencydisfluency, dysfluency, repetitions, prolongation, blocks
- speaking verbschat, chatter, gossip, jabber, blab
- stress reactionspanic, fear, fright, terror, horror
stammerflow
Unbroken forward movement
rattle off · glide · hold forth · roll off the tongue · declaim
stammerarticulate
Express clearly, or well-spoken
enunciate · enounce · project · pronounce · speak clearly