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

• 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

Watts traded her signature cool blond waves for a structured, chestnut-colored bob wrapped up in a chic, silken headscarf in the photos taken in in New York City's Central Park on Aug. 4. —Ryan Coleman Updated, EW.com, 6 Aug. 2025

The silken ice creams, in flavors of rosewater-saffron and Kurdish coffee, are the stuff of dreams. —Nancy Vienneau, Southern Living, 3 Aug. 2025

The scene finds Tony and Ziva wrapped up in silken sheets in a hotel room out on assignment, rolling around, teasing each other, and enjoying the flames of initial attraction. —Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 29 July 2025

Protein smoothies with soy milk, plant protein powder (made from pea or soy), or silken tofu. —Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 29 July 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