shut up

verb

Definition of shut upnext
1
as in to dry up
to stop talking you have no right to tell the rest of us to shut up

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to shush
to stop the noise or speech of nothing I said would shut them up

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 shut up In one sketch, David as Bell makes the historic first phone call, but the guy on the other end won't shut up. — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 26 June 2026 Dude, just leave — or stay and shut up! — William Earl, Variety, 26 June 2026 Our early testing has already shown that Siri AI knows when to shut up, and that’s very much by design. — Thomas Ricker, The Verge, 12 June 2026 The audience is there in the flesh, shutting up and paying attention to your talent. — Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 1 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for shut up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shut up
  1. dry up
  2. shush
  3. hush
  4. silence
  5. clam up
  6. quiet
  7. belt up
  8. mute
Verb
  • Animation work, especially in Los Angeles, has been drying up due to job cuts and the growing threat of AI.
    — Marah Eakin, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • In the end, Cameroon’s experience won out as Malawi’s debut magic dried up one game too soon.
    — Emily Olsen, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of dry up
Verb
  • His interactions with Daemon (Matt Smith) last season, going so far as to shush him at one point, were a breath of fresh air.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • As the moment unfolded, Savannah shushed the future king and even briefly placed her hand over his mouth in an effort to keep him composed.
    — Staff Author, InStyle, 13 June 2026
Definition of shush
Verb
  • The impact is lavish yet hushed; welcoming yet sharply articulated.
    — Genevieve Walker, Architectural Digest, 2 Aug. 2026
  • But within the cozy world of footballing governance, any dissent was mostly hushed—except in Norway.
    — Tom Kludt, Vanity Fair, 17 July 2026
Definition of hush
Verb
  • In these difficult and incendiary times, perspectives such as Poe’s are often silenced and forced to remain in the shadows.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Response to ‘silencing’ claims As part of the suit, the city filed a motion for a temporary restraining order and temporary injunction.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of silence
Verb
  • Anyone asked by local or national media over the past few months if they’d been invited to the nuptials clammed up quickly.
    — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026
  • On Israel, a lot of candidates have clammed up.
    — Naaman Zhou, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
Definition of clam up
Verb
  • Why probiotics matters for sensitive and dry skin If your skin flares up easily, probiotics may help quiet the noise.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 11 Aug. 2026
  • A little solitude can do wonders to quiet your brain from the chaos of day-to-day life.
    — Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of quiet
Verb
  • The evening’s co-main event bout between Raymond Ford and Thomas Mattice also has a belt up for grabs.
    — Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Going back home Sunday looks nice, except for the Lake Effect Snow belt up in New York, Pennsylvania and Michigan.
    — Amanda Castro, Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2024
Definition of belt up
Verb
  • As the plot narrows into a search for a Manhunter, a murderous species whose vaunted ability to blend in is somewhat muted by every other alien having the same ability, each Lantern gets assigned a love interest.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 14 Aug. 2026
  • When Robert offers to help, Thom’s expression is curiously muted.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of mute

Browse Nearby Words

shutting up
shut up
shy
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Cite this Entry

“Shut up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shut%20up. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on shut up

Nglish: Translation of shut up for Spanish Speakers

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