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

Jean-Micheal Gathy's interiors are decorated in pale sand, taupe, and gold tones, with marble floors and silken carpets. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 June 2026

Minced bunches of mint, scallions and parsley shift the mixture into warm-salad territory, particularly with the silken sheen of good olive oil that Anissa drizzles over at the end. — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2026

Try using silken tofu to replace some or all of the liquid base or swap it for yogurt. — Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 17 June 2026

Best for chicken breasts, salad veggies, silken tofu, bread, and dairy. — Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Apr. 2026

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