unpronounced
Letters without sound
Unpronounced describes a letter or syllable that appears in spelling but isn't articulated in speech.
The *k* in *knife* is unpronounced, as is the *b* in *doubt*.
English is full of such silent letters—artifacts of earlier pronunciations or borrowed spellings.
Something unpronounced can also simply be something not yet said aloud: The words remained unpronounced between them.
Without voice or sound
- soundlessProducing no audible noise
- voicelessHaving no voice
- unvoicedNot expressed aloud
- unutteredNot expressed aloud
unsounded · inaudible · wordless · speechless · hushed · quiet · still · noiseless
Not expressed aloud
- silent letterUnpronounced written symbol
- elidedRemoved from pronunciation
- droppedLet fall downward
- swallowedPassed through throat
clipped · omitted · reduced · unstressed · schwa · deleted · aspirated · glottal
Understood without words
- impliedSuggested without stating
- understoodGrasped the meaning
- unstatedNot openly expressed
- unspokenNot verbally expressed
inferred · assumed · underlying · latent · inherent · subtextual · connoted · insinuated
Forcibly held down
- repressedHeld back from expression
- pent-upConfined and building pressure
- withheldKept from giving
- internalizedAdopted into one's mindset
unvoiced · unshared · hidden · concealed · restrained · inhibited · undisclosed · unrevealed
Not perceived by anyone
- ignoredPurposely not noticed
- neglectedNot given proper attention
- omittedLeft out intentionally
- disregardedNot given consideration
unrecognized · unacknowledged · unheeded · missed · undetected · forgotten · sidelined · marginalized
mute
Without voice or sound
unuttered · unsounded · inaudible · wordless · speechless · hushed · quiet · still · noiseless · unheard
unvoiced
Not expressed aloud
- silent letterUnpronounced written symbol
- elidedRemoved from pronunciation
- droppedLet fall downward
swallowed · clipped · omitted · reduced · unstressed · schwa · deleted · aspirated · glottal · syncopated
tacit
Understood without words
- impliedSuggested without stating
- understoodGrasped the meaning
- unstatedNot openly expressed
unspoken · inferred · assumed · underlying · latent · inherent · subtextual · connoted · insinuated · presumed
suppressed
Forcibly held down
internalized · unvoiced · unshared · hidden · concealed · restrained · inhibited · undisclosed · unrevealed · smoldering
unnoticed
Not perceived by anyone
disregarded · unrecognized · unacknowledged · unheeded · missed · undetected · forgotten · sidelined · marginalized · overshadowed
unpronouncedpronounced
Spoken aloud formally
spoken · voiced · said · uttered · articulated