dumbs

verb

present tense third-person singular of dumb
as in quiets
to stop the noise or speech of the terrible news dumbed her for a long moment, and then she burst into tears

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dumbs
  1. quiets
  2. shushes
  3. mutes
  4. silences
  5. hushes
  6. settles
  7. stills
Verb
  • This dad claims that using the OM sound quiets his baby every time.
    — Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 5 Aug. 2026
  • One of the chiefs, Joseph Pawnee-no-pashe (also known as Governor Joe), quiets him.
    — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 11 July 2026
Definition of quiets
Verb
  • Before the chatter can continue, Sharon Leone (Diane Farr), the Cal Fire Division Chief and mother of Bode Leone (Max Thieriot), quickly shushes everyone and reminds them to focus.
    — Deirdre Durkan, PEOPLE, 21 May 2026
Definition of shushes
Verb
  • The boom automatically mutes the microphone when lifted and can answer incoming calls simply by being lowered.
    — Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
  • Using a vegetable peeler, shave a modest amount of Parmesan onto a plate (a mound of grated Parmesan may look impressive, but all that clumpy cheese mutes the dressing).
    — Sue Li, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 June 2026
Definition of mutes
Verb
  • This fails to mention that partisan gerrymandering silences the voices of the voters in the district who deserve representation, especially voters from underrepresented groups that are disproportionately affected by these efforts.
    — Reese Ritter, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
  • Shame shrinks us and silences our stories.
    — Carolyn O'Laughlin, CNN Money, 28 June 2026
Definition of silences
Verb
  • Sweeping views over Hyde Park and expert soundproofing that hushes those busy London street horns.
    — Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 19 May 2026
  • The top itself is an eight-layer cloth construction that satisfyingly hushes the cabin when raised.
    — Brett Berk, Robb Report, 3 Sep. 2025
Definition of hushes
Verb
  • The Russia and Ukraine conflict grinds into a fifth year; a new Fed chair settles in while tariff policy whipsaws through the courts; tensions with allies and adversaries alike continue to flare.
    — Nigel Morris, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The deal settles any claims over Suno’s prior use of BMG’s music in training data.
    — Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of settles
Verb
  • And stills the curiosity, communication, and debate on which any self-aware democracy depends.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 Feb. 2026
Definition of stills
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.

Browse Nearby Words

dumbness
dumbs
dumbs down
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dumbs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dumbs. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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