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

Whirl silken tofu in a blender to make a versatile egg or cream substitute. —Kate Williams, AJC.com, 10 Mar. 2026

The strapless number featured mesh detailing, against silken panels. —Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 9 Mar. 2026

All the elements are there — bitterness, sweetness and a kiss of acidity — in a harmonious balance that melts with a silken gloss. —Paul Stephen, San Antonio Express-News, 4 Feb. 2026

Katharine Blodgett’s delivery is silken, confident. —Natalia Sánchez Loayza, Scientific American, 29 Jan. 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