The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word TACIT
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
T
A
C
I
T
More clues leading to the result TACIT
- Some dramatic attempt backfiring, it's understood
- Silent bird trapping bill
- Implied one is entering diplomacy
- Silent diplomacy involving Irish leader
- Diplomacy that keeps one silent
- In Minnesota citizenship is implied
- Time to do something about independence, it’s understood
- Understood to be essentially unskilled in diplomacy
- Diplomacy surrounding Indian leader is understood
- Understood this topless dress is wrong for 20
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "without speaking" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case without speaking = tacit.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does TACIT mean?
TACIT adjective- Expressed in silence; implied, but not made explicit; silent.
- Not derived from formal principles of reasoning; based on induction rather than deduction.