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
Jonny Thomson, Big Think, 1 Oct. 2025
Confident in his abilities and comfortable with awkward silence, Counsell is constantly asking questions and gathering information.
—Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
They were blacklisted, harassed, silenced, and even imprisoned.
—Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for silence
Noun
You natter and natter without ever having to think of what to say or cringe through any awkward silence.
—Jonny Thomson, Big Think, 1 Oct. 2025
Confident in his abilities and comfortable with awkward silence, Counsell is constantly asking questions and gathering information.
—Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
The federal government is once again engaged in a coordinated campaign to silence critics in the government, the media, the judiciary, academia, and the entertainment industry.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 1 Oct. 2025
They were blacklisted, harassed, silenced, and even imprisoned.
—Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for silence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for silence
Noun
-
However, The Hanged Man reminds you that clarity comes through stillness, not through constant mental activity.—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
1 Oct. 2025
-
When Punch’s second act at last reaches the climactic series of encounters between Jacob, David, and Joan — mediated by Nicola (Camila Canó-Flaviá), a restorative-justice worker — the often bouncy, pulsing play ends up finding its greatest strength in stillness.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
30 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
-
Five Yankees used the bat, but the hubbub has since faded into obscurity.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
28 Sep. 2025
-
But all signs suggest the leadership should remove Norvell before the boos get louder, before donations get smaller, and before this season fades into obscurity.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Justin Thomas found himself in the unique position of trying to amp up the crowd in support of his team, while also trying to shush them so that his opponents could have a fair chance of playing.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Booing begins, and then shushing, and then booing again.—
Matthew Shen Goodman,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Multiple fire departments worked to suppress the blaze, police said.—
Charles Ventura,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Tigers pitchers, meanwhile, rank 14th in suppressing home runs.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 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 6 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share