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

The Running Man show itself, overseen by a silken Colman Domingo as host Bobby T, is presented as something like American Idol if, instead of singing, everyone were just trying to put off receiving a kill shot to the head for as long as possible. —Alison Willmore, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025

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

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