silken

adjective

silk·​en ˈsil-kən 

1

: made or consisting of silk

2

: resembling silk: such as

a

: soft, lustrous

b(1)

: agreeably smooth : harmonious

a silken voice

(2)

: suave, ingratiating

3

a

: dressed in silk

silken ankles

b

: having a richly luxurious quality

… the same silken surroundings encountered at the restaurant's far more expensive evening meal.

—Elaine Tait

Synonyms of silken

• silky
• satin
• soft

Examples of silken in a Sentence

the silken texture of the synthetic fabric

she was unaccustomed to living in such silken surroundings

Recent Examples on the Web

Plush jade bedspreads paired with silken green sheets or a jade accent wall would instantly soften a room and give it major earthy vibes. —Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Jan. 2026

Use the same ratio as for cottage cheese and Greek yogurt, 3/4 cup silken tofu for each cup of liquid. —Riley Wofford, Martha Stewart, 19 Jan. 2026

Monroe wore a ‘pure white, long silken dress’ for her first wedding. —Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 6 Jan. 2026

Use silken tofu or a Greek yogurt to enhance creaminess (and protein content) when making some of these swaps. —Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 30 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for silken

• milken

Kids Definition

silken

adjective

silk·​en ˈsil-kən 

1

: made of or with silk

2

: resembling silk especially in soft smooth feel

3

: pleasantly smooth

a silken voice