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
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
This not only silences ideas but also creates a culture where employees feel less valued.
—Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
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
This not only silences ideas but also creates a culture where employees feel less valued.
—Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for silences
Verb
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Thermal and pressure bonding of a capping layer The research team showed that thermal and pressure bonding of a capping layer to a perovskite surface suppresses defect initiation from iodide loss and enhances long-term stability.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
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The crab-eating frog, on the other hand, suppresses urea excretion during salt exposure, which allows the levels to rise safely.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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
-
The host mutes everyone upon entry.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
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Twenty years later, an adult Guinevere is building her ghostwriting career when her estranged artist brother announces an installation titled Mother, which quells disturbing revelations in Guinevere.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Safety Kam Curl, whose interception in overtime against the Bears set up the game-winning field goal, noted that the crowd in Seattle quiets when the Seahawks offense is on the field.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2026
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With regular doses of morphine, the doctor quiets the alpha’s aggressive impulses.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Royd subdues and binds her before taking off to restore the power.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
13 Nov. 2025
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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
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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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Violent crime is also common, and the government violently represses journalists and dissidents.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
16 Jan. 2026
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That timing hasn’t been lost on the festival’s critics, who say the high-profile American comics are lending legitimacy to a government that represses dissent, jails activists and restricts free speech.—
Liam Reilly,
CNN Money,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Dolly Parton Continues Chasing First Bestseller As Parton settles into the runner-up space, she is kept from her first leader on the Digital Song Sales chart for the second time in her career.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Given a steady object of focus, the mind settles.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Silences.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/silences. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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