Entry Word: silence

Function: noun

Meaning: 1 incapacity for or restraint from speaking <the teacher expects complete silence from everyone during all tests>

Synonyms dumbness, muteness, speechlessness, stillness

Related Words inarticulateness, voicelessness; reserve, reticence, reticency, taciturnity

Near Antonyms communication, speaking, talking; eloquence, fluency, volubility; chattiness, garrulousness, loquaciousness, loquacity, talkativeness; verboseness, verbosity, windiness, wordiness

2 the near or complete absence of sound <the silence of the garden was refreshing after the din of the party inside>

Synonyms hush, quiet, quietness, quietude, still, stillness

Related Words calm, lull, peacefulness, tranquility

Near Antonyms din, clamor, hubbub, racket, tumult, uproar

Antonyms noise, sound