1
as in stillness
incapacity for or restraint from speaking
the violinist expects complete silence from the audience during his concerts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in quiet
the near or complete absence of sound
the silence of the garden was refreshing after the din of the party inside
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in obscurity
the quality or state of being mostly or completely unknown
the book eventually vanished into the silence that awaits best sellers whose time has past
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to quiet
to stop the noise or speech of
the instructor quickly silenced anyone who tried to interrupt we need to have a repairman come and silence that door alarm
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to suppress
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force
brutally silenced all political dissent in the country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of silence
Melissa Jun Rowley, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2025
The silence from Moody’s Investors Service, the last to assign the U.S. a top rating, is deafening.
—William Pesek, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Nick Caruso, TVLine, 9 Apr. 2025
That goal gave the visitors a 2-0 lead on aggregate and silenced the spirited home crowd, which came ready to party, decked in pink and black, banging drums and waving large banners.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for silence
Noun
The culture of silence that makes speaking up feel more dangerous than staying quiet.
—Melissa Jun Rowley, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2025
The silence from Moody’s Investors Service, the last to assign the U.S. a top rating, is deafening.
—William Pesek, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Verb
Despite the fact that Chrissy, Eva, Joe, Sai and Star recognized Mitch’s big target — the guy’s immensely likable and a beast in challenges, too — Mitch used his Block a Vote to silence Sai’s voice and prevent her from using her Shot in the Dark.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 9 Apr. 2025
That goal gave the visitors a 2-0 lead on aggregate and silenced the spirited home crowd, which came ready to party, decked in pink and black, banging drums and waving large banners.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for silence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for silence
Noun
-
In the quiet of his private room, Trinita shares a painful memory of her past.—
Kristen Baldwin,
EW.com,
11 Apr. 2025
-
The final horn sounded, mercifully, the players shook hands, and the Aztecs shuffled off the floor, through a tunnel and into the quiet of their locker room, their season ending with a whimper instead of a bang.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Instead, the accomplishment faded into obscurity, unrecorded in our collective national memory.—
Cassidy Randall,
TIME,
14 Mar. 2025
-
Now we’re stuck with Healey, who is taking Warren’s route into obscurity, while we’re stuck with a $62 billion fiscal year 2026 budget proposal that needs a backup plan if federal dollars dry up.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
10 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
One day at the Scottish Open, a volunteer held up the quiet sign and shushed the crowd as Morikawa prepared to hit from the fairway.—
Brody Miller,
The Athletic,
6 Jan. 2025
-
Fathers shushed babbling toddlers as their wives snuck out to change infants’ diapers.—
Carlos Nogueras Ramos,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
To tell the Blue Devils, basically, not to suppress their emotions.—
Brendan Marks,
New York Times,
27 Mar. 2025
-
The new, later Equal Pay Day marks a troubling reminder of how systemic barriers—ranging from occupational segregation to discrimination in hiring and promotion—continue to suppress the earning power of Black women.—
Jasmine Browley,
Essence,
25 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The national championship follows those back-to-back titles but — unlike those — was dragged out of oblivion.—
Brian Hamilton,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
-
Such a narrow escape from oblivion would have shocked his fellow-Romans.—
Daniel Mendelsohn,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The magazine saw itself as literary but not self-serious; if the stereotypical National Geographic story was a walk through the jungle recounted in hushed, awed tones, its Outside equivalent was a little dustier, wilder, and less reverent.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
18 Apr. 2025
-
In his nearly 30-minute remarks, the 82-year-old often sounded hushed, with several distinct outbursts in defense of Social Security and its recipients.—
Isabella Murray,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Rubio sought to quell anxieties among his European counterparts as Trump’s tariffs take effect, the president mulls withdrawing from NATO altogether and U.S. support for Ukraine hangs in the balance.—
Alexis Simendinger,
The Hill,
4 Apr. 2025
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Anti-Diversity Policies: The U.S. State Department is seeking to quell a diplomatic tempest roiling Europe after several American Embassies sent letters to foreign contractors instructing them to certify their compliance with Trump’s policies aimed at unraveling diversity programs.—
Victoria Kim,
New York Times,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Now, the Trump administration intends to apply the penalties retroactively for up to five years—a move that could lead to fines exceeding $1 million, according to Reuters, which spoke to a senior official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss confidential plans.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
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Those staff members have been furloughed until later in the year, the state of their future contracts unclear, according to a NOAA staffer speaking on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution.—
Alejandra Borunda,
NPR,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Silence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/silence. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.
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