silence

²silence

verb

si·lencedsi·lenc·ing

Definition of SILENCE

transitive verb

1

: to compel or reduce to silence : still <silenced the crowd>

2

: suppress <silence dissent>

3

: to cause to cease hostile firing or criticism <silence the opposition>

Examples of SILENCE

1. My sister's revelation silenced everyone around the table.
2. Disconnecting the battery will silence the alarm.
3. The mayor tried to silence his critics.
4. I will not be silenced!
5. It's obvious that the purpose of this law is to silence dissent.

First Known Use of SILENCE

1598

Related to SILENCE

Synonyms: dumb, extinguish, hush, mute, quell, quiet, quieten [chiefly British], settle, shush, shut up, squelch, still

Related Words: douse (also dowse), extinguish, put out, quench; smother, stifle, strangle, throttle; annihilate, decimate, demolish, desolate, destroy, devastate, nuke, rub out, ruin, smash, waste, wreck; exterminate, obliterate, wipe out; conquer, dominate, overcome, overpower, overwhelm, subdue, subjugate, vanquish

Near Antonyms: agitate, stir

see all synonyms and antonyms

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