as in to hush
to stop talking
the kids quieted down when they realized I was about to ask them if they wanted ice cream
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quiet (down)
Verb
-
Immediately, his teacher hushed him.—
Sana Noor Haq,
CNN Money,
23 Jan. 2026 -
Egregiously, Michelin stars were never meant for taco stands — not in the modern era when the guide’s definition of greatness has so often meant white tablecloths, hushed dining rooms and pricey tasting menus.—
Brock Keeling,
Oc Register,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Overuse of aquifers can lower the water table and dry up nearby springs, and irrigation for ranching accounts for a large share of the area’s water use.—
Outside,
Outside,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The goals have dried up for Welbeck — one in his last 11 Premier League appearances — just when Hurzeler needs him more than ever to be in top form.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But when co-host Maria McErlane looked for details, Norton clammed up.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
Mercury News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The client is bound to clam up.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Between the red carpet and your For You Page, there’s no shortage of inspiration if your 2016 self won’t shut up about getting a new piece.—
Marianne Mychaskiw,
Allure,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Alfred Williams had yelled at Azari, who was dressed in a onesie, to shut up, Ronie Williams recalled.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Jan. 2026
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.
Cite this Entry
“Quiet (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quiet%20%28down%29. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
