1
as in shushes
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in suppresses
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
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Recent Examples of silences
Allison’s chilling prophecy about Kyle silences the table, quickly shifting the mood.
—
Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026
There are high hopes for US biotech company Scribe Therapeutics' STX-1150 treatment, which epigenetically silences the PCSK9 gene in the liver to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C).
—New Atlas, 25 Jan. 2026
In Cuba, where vibrant streets hide daily struggles, the government silences its people and spreads trouble worldwide.
—Markus Wiechel, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
Cutting them off not only silences crucial perspectives but also creates a long-term deficit in institutional knowledge, breaking the chain of skills that develops as employees grow within a company.
—Frank Nagle, Fortune, 19 Nov. 2025
Someone on her team silences the chatter like a classroom teacher and urges everyone to search.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 6 Nov. 2025
Strong, steady performance silences speculation better than any defense.
—Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
But Saturn pushes you to create harmony that’s rooted in healthy reciprocity, as opposed to compromise that silences your needs.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
His death Friday morning just after midnight, silences an exemplary artist who performed weekly until earlier this summer.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2025
Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026
There are high hopes for US biotech company Scribe Therapeutics' STX-1150 treatment, which epigenetically silences the PCSK9 gene in the liver to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C).
—New Atlas, 25 Jan. 2026
In Cuba, where vibrant streets hide daily struggles, the government silences its people and spreads trouble worldwide.
—Markus Wiechel, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
Cutting them off not only silences crucial perspectives but also creates a long-term deficit in institutional knowledge, breaking the chain of skills that develops as employees grow within a company.
—Frank Nagle, Fortune, 19 Nov. 2025
Someone on her team silences the chatter like a classroom teacher and urges everyone to search.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 6 Nov. 2025
Strong, steady performance silences speculation better than any defense.
—Johnny C. Taylor Jr, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
But Saturn pushes you to create harmony that’s rooted in healthy reciprocity, as opposed to compromise that silences your needs.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
His death Friday morning just after midnight, silences an exemplary artist who performed weekly until earlier this summer.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for silences
Verb
-
Blue light from screens suppresses melatonin by up to 80%, delaying sleep onset when viewed within an hour of bedtime and fragmenting deep sleep.—
John La Puma,
Oc Register,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Blue light suppresses melatonin and makes falling back asleep significantly harder.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Canned water chestnuts are blanched before packing, which mutes their flavor slightly but preserves their crispness.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Robinson is the favorite to start, which would mean Towns sliding over to power forward, which mutes some of his offensive superpowers.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
One way Recover quells concerns is through proof-of-concept collections with supply chain partners.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
26 Mar. 2026
-
While the presumption was always that Messi would renew with the Herons, the news quells any lingering anxiety.—
Ian Nicholas Quillen,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Toward the end of 2026’s Sparkling Wine & Oyster Celebration, when the last oyster is gone and the sparkling wine has softened to its final fizz, the barn at Campovida quiets enough to hear winter wind moving through the rafters.—
Audrey T. Williams,
Mercury News,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Add in ice cubes one at a time, and turn off the unit when the loud grinding quiets, after just a few seconds.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Royd subdues and binds her before taking off to restore the power.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
13 Nov. 2025
-
For those who are more into curves than angles, the Bialetti Moon takes all the functional elements of the moka stovetop espresso maker and subdues them with a rounded stainless steel silhouette.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The top itself is an eight-layer cloth construction that satisfyingly hushes the cabin when raised.—
Brett Berk,
Robb Report,
3 Sep. 2025
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Autumn hushes the Codrii forest, where mushrooms push through damp soil and the air smells of woodsmoke and moss.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The portrait of a woman who represses and conceals a rape struck a chord as the #MeToo movement took off and put Trobisch on the map.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2026
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Trying to eliminate one side inevitably represses part of our own nature.—
Richard P. Weigand,
Rolling Stone,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Lisa Marie Malloy, Roy Whitaker, United States, 2026 Darkness settles over Little Egypt.—
William Earl,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
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While the Justice Department settles most tax matters civilly through fines, when prosecutors do charge criminal fraud, their conviction rate is over 90%.—
Avi Asher-Schapiro,
ProPublica,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Silences.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/silences. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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