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

Even our silken fruits offer their wet to afternoon sky. —Carson Colenbaugh, The Atlantic, 9 Nov. 2025

Higher up, spiders had hoisted shells into the branches, dangling them from silken threads like miniature wind chimes. —Chris Schalkx, Vogue, 30 Sep. 2025

Properly constructed, a Martinez is plush with Italian vermouth but still prickly with gin, enjoying the diamond-clarity of a Martini but with the silken luxuriousness of a Manhattan. —Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 27 Sep. 2025

Make a cheesecake with silken tofu. —Audrey Bruno, SELF, 25 Sep. 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