What does stammeringly mean?
Stammeringly is an adverb meaning in a manner marked by stammering or difficulty speaking. It describes speech that is hesitant, interrupted, or affected by repeated sounds and syllables, often because of nervousness, excitement, or an ongoing speech difficulty. The word is most often used in descriptive writing to portray the way someone speaks, as in a report that a witness 'began stammeringly' before answering a question. It can carry a sympathetic tone when describing a person with a speech disorder, but it may also suggest nervousness or uncertainty in less formal contexts. Because it is a relatively uncommon adverb, phrases such as 'spoke with a stammer' or 'spoke haltingly' are often more natural. Overall, stammeringly gives vivid detail to speech that is not smooth or fluent.
adverbIn a stammering manner, with difficulty or irregularity in producing speech. It can describe speech that is hesitant, interrupted, or marked by repeated sounds and syllables.
- In the manner of someone who stammers, with interrupted or difficult speech.
"He answered the question stammeringly, struggling to find the words."
"She spoke stammeringly whenever she became excited."
"The witness began stammeringly and struggled to continue."
Sometimes the most powerful way to describe hesitant speech is simply to say it was stammeringly.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
How stammeringly is actually used
Stammeringly is relatively uncommon in formal writing. In many contexts, 'with a stammer' or 'in a halting manner' sounds more natural, while 'stammeringly' can be effective in literary or descriptive prose.
Easily confused with stammeringly
A stammer typically involves involuntary repetitions or prolongations of sounds, while a stutter generally refers to a broader speech fluency difficulty involving blocks, hesitations, or repetitions.