1
as in stillness
incapacity for or restraint from speaking
the violinist expects complete silence from the audience during his concerts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in quiet
the near or complete absence of sound
the silence of the garden was refreshing after the din of the party inside
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in obscurity
the quality or state of being mostly or completely unknown
the book eventually vanished into the silence that awaits best sellers whose time has past
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to quiet
to stop the noise or speech of
the instructor quickly silenced anyone who tried to interrupt we need to have a repairman come and silence that door alarm
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to suppress
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force
brutally silenced all political dissent in the country
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 silence
Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 24 Sep. 2025
In one of the film’s tautest sequences, they’re caught swimming in a neighbor’s pool by a caretaker (Damien Bonnard), and Sana must decide whether to pay off the man to keep his silence.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2025
Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 22 Sep. 2025
The legislature is now a poster child for silencing dissent.
—Amy Stephens, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for silence
Noun
After a near-fatal experience, Kaif began seeing both stories and silences differently.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 24 Sep. 2025
In one of the film’s tautest sequences, they’re caught swimming in a neighbor’s pool by a caretaker (Damien Bonnard), and Sana must decide whether to pay off the man to keep his silence.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 23 Sep. 2025
Verb
In an attempt to silence its critics, our government has resorted to threatening the livelihoods of journalists, talk show hosts, artists, creatives, and entertainers across the board.
—Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 22 Sep. 2025
The legislature is now a poster child for silencing dissent.
—Amy Stephens, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for silence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for silence
Noun
-
As the light drops, the stillness of the dark comes on, the trees acquire their night-time solidity, and the hooting of the owls begins.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Sep. 2025
-
The result is a spectacular vista that chronicles the shifting face of September's blood moon in contrast to the stillness of the desert below.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Or escape completely from the fray and bask in the quiet of the adults-only Hibiscus Pool or the 50,000-square-foot spa, the largest in the state.—
Forbes Travel Guide,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
-
In the quiet between storms, the couple gave ESSENCE a true look into their own reality.—
Essence,
Essence,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Every so often, a special teams player emerges from obscurity.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Sep. 2025
-
You got plucked from obscurity to do this project.—
Chris Lee,
Vulture,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Booing begins, and then shushing, and then booing again.—
Matthew Shen Goodman,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Jena asked, for which she was shushed), that was spotted and strong enough to kill a man.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Advertisement Amazon still faces another lawsuit brought by the FTC in 2023, which alleged that the company is an exploitative monopoly and illegally suppressed competition among online marketplaces.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
26 Sep. 2025
-
The threats are so vague, and government power so extensive, that this will undoubtedly drive widespread self-censorship and suppress free expression across many communities out of fear.—
Elizabeth Shackelford,
Twin Cities,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
That quietness wasn't typical, Chyna Sands said.—
Monroe Trombly,
Louisville Courier Journal,
10 Sep. 2025
-
She was particularly struck by the quietness of Latronico, and noticed that there didn’t seem to be any children around.—
Silvia Marchetti,
CNN Money,
25 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Rashod Bateman slunk back into oblivion (two targets).—
Michael Salfino,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
-
The hotel — as a symbol of a city, a country, a continent even — risks being lost to oblivion.—
Manuel Betancourt,
Variety,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
McIlroy would hush the USA crowd after putts, while Reed would bow to their applause.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Robert Kraft — sandwiched in between Travis Scott and his fellow REFORM Alliance Board Member Michael Rubin — shared hushed conversations with both.—
Mackenzie Cummings-Grady,
Billboard,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Silence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/silence. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share