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
Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 25 June 2025
The researchers of the 2022 study also found that people on the receiving end of indirect attacks also end up responding with silence, politeness or attempts to smooth things over.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025
Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 9 June 2025
Conspiracy theorists have speculated that powerful people silenced Epstein rather than have their secrets exposed.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for silence
Noun
Additional Ss were later added to evoke worlds like silence and simplicity, which Asakawa feels match the brand’s spirit.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 25 June 2025
The researchers of the 2022 study also found that people on the receiving end of indirect attacks also end up responding with silence, politeness or attempts to smooth things over.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025
Verb
Though James was determined to silence Ruby, their passionate exchanges of words eventually ignited a certain spark.
—Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 9 June 2025
Conspiracy theorists have speculated that powerful people silenced Epstein rather than have their secrets exposed.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 7 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for silence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for silence
Noun
-
If her body isn’t always willing, her mind and her heart are still keen on the sport, so Press makes her most valuable contributions now in the quiet of the locker room.—
Houston Mitchell,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2025
-
From the misty hills of Harpers Ferry to the cosmic quiet of Green Bank, here’s how to explore one of the country’s most underrated summer destinations from east to west.—
West Virginia Tourism Office,
AFAR Media,
9 May 2025
Noun
-
For too long, your culture has been shrouded in obscurity, and even shame.—
Kira Garcia,
New Yorker,
17 June 2025
-
The Last Guest of the Holloway Motel Photo: Courtesy of Tribeca Festival How did a 1970s British soccer star disappear without a trace at the peak of his career and, years later, end up managing a down-at-the-heels West Hollywood motel in obscurity?—
Lisa Wong Macabasco,
Vogue,
13 June 2025
Verb
-
The crowd had just spent an entire overtime shushing each other.—
Tony East,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
-
But, when Lydia attempts to explain herself, Tina shushes her.—
Joey Nolfi Published,
EW.com,
4 June 2025
Verb
-
This outdated mentality fosters two counterproductive patterns: emotional repression, in which individuals suppress feelings, and emotional reactivity, where feelings are expressed impulsively and without regulation.—
Andriana Eliadis,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
-
Firefighters are working to suppress the fire, which is currently burning with a slow rate of spread.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
20 June 2025
Noun
-
Doing so will require the triggering of another release clause, though this one is a lot more expensive at €58 million and won’t be as straightforward to raise for a club still recovering from a financial crisis that pushed it to the brink of oblivion earlier this decade.—
Tom Sanderson,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
-
Attacking the concepts with an edge of Black Mirror, youthful characters forgo the stress of a body altogether and upload themselves to a neural computer network, seek oblivion from sentient boulders.—
Michelle Tea
June 18,
Literary Hub,
18 June 2025
Verb
-
That 2-1 defeat was a stinger — Tōko Koga’s decisive goal in the 50th minute hushed an otherwise raucous San Diego crowd.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
31 May 2025
-
Young Morrison got a harsh lesson in how things are done in a blue state: Liberal groupthink is gospel, dissenters are heretics who should be hushed.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
28 May 2025
Verb
-
Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell defended his department’s handling of recent protests, saying officers acted appropriately to quell unrest — pushing back against criticism about aggressive crowd control tactics used during demonstrations against President Trump’s immigration crackdown.—
Libor Jany,
Los Angeles Times,
24 June 2025
-
President Donald Trump just announced a ceasefire between the Middle Eastern countries—potentially quelling oil market fears of Iran’s plans to close the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway to global oil trade.—
Nino Paoli,
Fortune,
23 June 2025
Noun
-
An executive at a major U.S. sportsbook operator, speaking on the condition of anonymity earlier this year, said tribal groups might be the strongest potential deterrent to Kalshi’s growth because of their ability to act in unison to defend their legal gaming rights.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
23 June 2025
-
The adjustment introduced a nuance meant to provide more flexibility to the commitment, said the people, who requested anonymity to discuss private considerations.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
23 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Silence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/silence. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share