1
as in quiet
free from disturbing noise or uproar
entered the hushed interior of the Gothic church
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tranquil
free from storms or physical disturbance
the hushed lake was smooth as glass the morning after the storm
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in quieted
mostly or entirely without sound
a hushed sickroom
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in confidential
not known or meant to be known by the general populace
hushed negotiations between the two countries
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in cooled
to become still and orderly
the whole room hushed when the queen made her entrance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in quieted (down)
to stop talking
the principal asked the children to hush and pay attention during the ceremony
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hushed
Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026
That was on display as volunteers spoke of the lighthouse’s history in hushed, reverent voices.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Her parents’ bedroom still felt a little bit like church, hushed and dark, the air redolent with her mother’s perfume and hair spray, something mustier beneath.
—Literary Hub, 2 Mar. 2026
Before its publication and subsequent Netflix docuseries adaptation, psychedelics were typically spoken of in hushed tones by people who frequented Phish shows.
—Nick Hilden, Rolling Stone, 24 Feb. 2026
One storyline that will be at the forefront of the upcoming season centers on Wednesday's Aunt Ophelia, who's been spoken about in hushed whispers throughout season 2.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Feb. 2026
The hushed path rose to meet him.
—Roey Leonardi, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2026
The eight friends found joy in the mountains, skiing together across the untracked powder of the hushed, pristine wilderness of California’s Sierra Nevada – their close friendship standing out against a rugged, unforgiving terrain.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 21 Feb. 2026
Through hushed hazes of strings emerge gentle pulsings and flourishes of winds.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 18 Feb. 2026
Vanity Fair, 26 Mar. 2026
Inside, the house was hushed and still.
—Alex Morris, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2026
All was hushed and stonily still, like the moon and its lights and shadows.
—Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026
Inside, the rooms were intimate, jammed, dim, and hushed.
—Nicole Krauss, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Now, all is hushed and warm, and there is marble beneath our feet.
—Caroline Law, TheWeek, 9 Feb. 2026
Down at the finish line, the crowd hushed.
—Will Graves, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2026
In the more than a month that has passed since team, state and local leadership unveiled plans to bring game day to KCK in the 2031 season, negotiations have remained largely hushed.
—Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 2026
Immediately, his teacher hushed him.
—Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
There’s a beguiling dissonance between the hushed voiceover and the images of ships carrying cables and dropping them in the ocean for the internet to reach the island.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026
That was on display as volunteers spoke of the lighthouse’s history in hushed, reverent voices.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Her parents’ bedroom still felt a little bit like church, hushed and dark, the air redolent with her mother’s perfume and hair spray, something mustier beneath.
—Literary Hub, 2 Mar. 2026
Before its publication and subsequent Netflix docuseries adaptation, psychedelics were typically spoken of in hushed tones by people who frequented Phish shows.
—Nick Hilden, Rolling Stone, 24 Feb. 2026
One storyline that will be at the forefront of the upcoming season centers on Wednesday's Aunt Ophelia, who's been spoken about in hushed whispers throughout season 2.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Feb. 2026
The hushed path rose to meet him.
—Roey Leonardi, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2026
The eight friends found joy in the mountains, skiing together across the untracked powder of the hushed, pristine wilderness of California’s Sierra Nevada – their close friendship standing out against a rugged, unforgiving terrain.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 21 Feb. 2026
Through hushed hazes of strings emerge gentle pulsings and flourishes of winds.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 18 Feb. 2026
Verb
What could have been a straightforward suburban critique is instead closer to a rich, deep baroque painting capturing longing, power, and hushed domestic drama.
—Vanity Fair, 26 Mar. 2026
Inside, the house was hushed and still.
—Alex Morris, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2026
All was hushed and stonily still, like the moon and its lights and shadows.
—Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026
Inside, the rooms were intimate, jammed, dim, and hushed.
—Nicole Krauss, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Now, all is hushed and warm, and there is marble beneath our feet.
—Caroline Law, TheWeek, 9 Feb. 2026
Down at the finish line, the crowd hushed.
—Will Graves, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2026
In the more than a month that has passed since team, state and local leadership unveiled plans to bring game day to KCK in the 2031 season, negotiations have remained largely hushed.
—Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 2026
Immediately, his teacher hushed him.
—Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 23 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hushed
Adjective
-
Aside from some quiet complaints about the NCAA’s COVID-19 protocols for people sitting around the court, no one offered anything other than positive reviews.—
Mac Engel
March 31,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Despite her difficult start, Kaiko has since been recovering in her new home, with the viral video capturing a quiet but significant milestone—her first night sleeping indoors.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Turning onto shady Little Road felt instantly tranquil.—
Christopher Spata,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
-
That earlier film, a languid, unsettling thriller, focused on its protagonist’s emotional breakdown during a supposedly tranquil Mediterranean vacation.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Yet according to confidential banking records and corporate documents reviewed by the Miami Herald, this unassuming address is one of several South Florida locations at the center of a sprawling financial network that moved at least $260 million connected to Argentina’s top soccer authority.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
-
McGraw Media agreed to remove all content from the documentary-style series that the department designates as inaccurate or confidential, that the NYPD is legally prohibited from releasing, that reveals investigatory techniques or that would otherwise compromise public safety or the public trust.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Within the two hours, items must be cooled from 135 degrees to 70 degrees, then 70 to 41 degrees within 4 hours.—
Paige Moore,
AZCentral.com,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Fresh funding included $110 million from Amazon, Nvidia, and SoftBank, though Bloomberg reports that demand for OpenAI's shares on the secondary market have cooled in favor of rival Anthropic.—
John Kell,
Fortune,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Some shushed the crowds, urging them to be silent and reverent.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Jena asked, for which she was shushed), that was spotted and strong enough to kill a man.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
While the mood was generally sunny and marches largely peaceful, the third No Kings protests were an unmistakable display of political force that could reverberate in the 2026 midterms and beyond.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
-
One detained at Dallas demonstration While most of Saturday's rallies were peaceful, police say one person was detained at the Dallas demonstration.—
Briseida Holguin,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Most guests inevitably gravitated to the serene main lobby called the Executive Lounge.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Her pieces – at once serene, vivid, geometric and even ominous – invite audiences into that experimentation.—
Anya Sesay,
jsonline.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Imogen Poots stars as silent film star Gloria Swanson, who had a passionate affair with Joe Kennedy Sr.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
-
With the help of a silent backer, the designer establishes Schiaparelli Pour le Sport at 4 rue de la Paix.—
Laird Borrelli-Persson,
Vogue,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hushed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hushed. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
