Synonyms of silence

silence 1 of 2

noun

ˈsī-lən(t)s 

1

as in stillness

incapacity for or restraint from speaking

the violinist expects complete silence from the audience during his concerts

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stillness
• speechlessness
• muteness
• voicelessness
• inarticulateness
• reticence
• reserve
• taciturnity
• inarticulacy
• reticency

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• speaking
• communication
• talking
• eloquence
• fluency
• volubility
• loquacity
• talkativeness
• garrulousness
• loquaciousness
• verbosity
• wordiness
• chattiness
• talkiness
• windiness
• verboseness

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

• quiet
• quietness
• lull
• hush
• stillness
• still
• quietude
• calm
• peace
• tranquility
• peacefulness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• noise
• sound
• chatter
• roar
• clamor
• din
• cacophony
• rattle
• tumult
• hubbub
• unquietness
• racket
• uproar
• blare
• bluster
• clangor
• babel

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

• obscurity
• oblivion
• anonymity
• namelessness
• nowhere
• facelessness
• invisibility
• insignificance
• nowheresville
• inconspicuousness
• unpopularity
• invisibleness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• name
• report
• fame
• reputation
• importance
• celebrity
• significance
• character
• notoriety
• mark
• renown
• favor
• note
• popularity
• honor
• repute
• rep
• glory
• greatness
• position
• distinction
• eminence
• prominence
• standing
• recognition
• praise
• preeminence
• acknowledgment
• prestige
• stature
• rank
• adoration
• illustriousness
• acclaim
• cachet
• superstardom
• megastardom
• kudos
• idolization

silence

2 of 2

verb

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

• quiet
• shush
• hush
• mute
• dumb
• settle
• still
• extinguish
• shut up
• quell
• quieten
• squelch

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stir
• agitate

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

• suppress
• quell
• subdue
• repress
• quash
• crack down (on)
• squelch
• crush
• stifle
• sit on
• destroy
• overcome
• extinguish
• slap down
• squash
• put down
• clamp down (on)
• snuff (out)
• desolate
• throttle
• ruin
• demolish
• quench
• put out
• obliterate
• wipe out
• smother
• annihilate
• waste
• decimate
• wreck
• dominate
• strangle
• overwhelm
• subjugate
• exterminate
• conquer
• smash
• vanquish
• devastate
• rub out
• douse
• overpower
• nuke

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• aid
• help
• support
• assist
• back
• stir
• provoke
• forward
• abet
• encourage
• prop up
• promote
• further
• advance
• incite
• foster
• cultivate
• whip (up)
• nurture
• foment
• instigate
• nourish

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of silence

Noun

Malkovich sat in silence for a few seconds, before pronouncing himself unable to think at the moment. — Nate Jones, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026

Owing to constant construction noise, daily burials at the cemetery would no longer take place in silence. — Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026

Verb

And to be unseen is a kind of disappearance and to be uncredited is a kind of silencing. — Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026

When Russia’s full-scale invasion breaks out, his mother and sister flee Ukraine and join him, bringing with them family conflicts and feelings of guilt that distance cannot silence. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2026