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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word silent distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of silent are reserved, reticent, secretive, and taciturn. While all these words mean "showing restraint in speaking," silent implies a habit of saying no more than is needed.

the strong, silent type

Where would reserved be a reasonable alternative to silent?

Although the words reserved and silent have much in common, reserved implies reticence and suggests the restraining influence of caution or formality in checking easy informal conversational exchange.

greetings were brief, formal, and reserved

When is reticent a more appropriate choice than silent?

The words reticent and silent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, reticent implies a reluctance to speak out or at length, especially about one's own affairs.

was reticent about his plans

When might secretive be a better fit than silent?

In some situations, the words secretive and silent are roughly equivalent. However, secretive, too, implies reticence but usually carries a suggestion of deviousness and lack of frankness or of an often ostentatious will to conceal.

the secretive research and development division

When can taciturn be used instead of silent?

The words taciturn and silent can be used in similar contexts, but taciturn implies a temperamental disinclination to speech and usually connotes unsociability.

taciturn villagers

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of silent
Adjective
The watch features a silent black screen that activates with a simple touch, providing basic information such as GMT, split-seconds chronograph, and a perpetual calendar. Bhanu Chopra, Forbes.com, 29 May 2025 Oh, and there’s a third child in the house: a silent boy named Oliver. Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
Noun
The Meahers, who own much of the land around Africatown, remain conspicuously off-screen and silent. Vulture, 24 Jan. 2023 So the various greenhouses and whatnots were familiar to Martha-content enthusiasts as the vans quickly took us past the beautiful part of her property toward the far less handsome back end, where a near-silent feeding frenzy was underway. Curbed, 25 Apr. 2022 See All Example Sentences for silent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for silent
Adjective
  • To remind us that behind every mute button is a person.
    Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
  • Please check back again soon for the recorded video. LIVE VIDEO TO BEGIN AFTER AD Loaded: 0% Progress: 0% Use up and down arrows to change volume, and spacebar or enter to toggle mute.
    Tyler Shane, Wired News, 31 May 2025
Adjective
  • My ticket was for travel with up to six others in a reserved couchette cabin.
    Carlton Reid, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
  • Sprinkle tops evenly with reserved sugar-flour mixture (about 1 1/2 teaspoons each).
    Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 28 May 2025
Adjective
  • In helicopter video taken by Air Maui Helicopter Tours in Lahaina and posted online the people aboard are largely speechless.
    Phil Helsel, NBC News, 10 Aug. 2023
  • Because his work, as is often the case, leaves us almost speechless.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Jan. 2023
Adjective
  • Ratajkowski has been fighting the stereotype of the dumb model from the beginning of her career.
    Daniel Jackson, Allure, 18 July 2017
  • Ninety nine percent of all NFL players are explicitly not dumb.
    Andy Benoit, The MMQB, 10 July 2017
Adjective
  • The drama division had been relatively quiet for a period but suddenly found its stride in the past year with a string of buzzy commissions that will now mostly air under new leadership.
    Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 3 June 2025
  • The home of about 400 year-round residents, who include fishermen and lobstermen, it’s long been a haven for those seeking peace, quiet and an escape from the heat, a world away from Portland.
    Everett Potter, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Noun
  • The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, Anderson’s Academy Award-winning short based on the 1977 Roald Dahl short story of the same name, feels like a children’s pop-up book come to life.
    Shannon Carlin, Time, 30 May 2025
  • The photos showed the dad wearing a gray tee with black shorts.
    Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 30 May 2025
Adjective
  • There was something hauntingly beautiful about them—soft, muted, delicate.
    Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
  • The layered but muted colors express the fog of dizziness that can transform a modest family living room into a dreamlike space.
    Elly Fishman, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • An all-out self-deprecating ad could be warranted if the goal is to simply raise brand awareness, while a more restrained approach might be needed to avoid distraction if an ad includes technical details about a new product.
    Anton Naianzin, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
  • Plus, How to Use It In Your Home For pattern, using a rug with an oversized, neutral pattern keeps within a restrained palette but still creates visual interest.
    Eleni N. Gage, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Silent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/silent. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

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