1
as in shushing
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in suppressing
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 silencing
Wembanyama missed seven shots from the floor, going 11 of 18 and silencing the crowd that at one point directed a vulgar chant his way.
—
Stephen Whyno, Twin Cities, 9 June 2026
The problem was that common bean plants are notoriously difficult to genetically modify, so the usual modern techniques like gene silencing were off the table.
—Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 3 June 2026
The Spurs entered the year as long shots at +6500, but gradually shed that label, outperforming their regular-season metrics and silencing doubters throughout the postseason.
—Doug Kezirian, New York Times, 3 June 2026
The athleisure retailer reached a cooperation agreement with Wilson, adding two of his candidates to its board and silencing Wilson’s public criticism of the company for 18 months, writes Forbes senior contributor Pamela Danziger.
—Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Meanwhile, Avila-Siqueiros was silencing the Warner bats, allowing just four walks and an error in the first five innings.
—Kevin J. Farmer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2026
Self-silencing pain and allowing it to be silenced, however, had not served me well.
—Nami Mun, The Atlantic, 16 May 2026
In this brilliant late-career work, Morrison shows that the United States of America and Americans are constantly shaping and reshaping a complicated tale, and that silencing or erasing parts of it is futile.
—Time, 12 May 2026
Shea Theodore had a goal and an assist and Brayden McNabb scored a short-handed goal as the Golden Knights stormed to a 5-0 lead after two periods, silencing a sellout crowd in Orange County and erasing memories of their rough offensive outing in Game 2.
—ABC News, 9 May 2026
Stephen Whyno, Twin Cities, 9 June 2026
The problem was that common bean plants are notoriously difficult to genetically modify, so the usual modern techniques like gene silencing were off the table.
—Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 3 June 2026
The Spurs entered the year as long shots at +6500, but gradually shed that label, outperforming their regular-season metrics and silencing doubters throughout the postseason.
—Doug Kezirian, New York Times, 3 June 2026
The athleisure retailer reached a cooperation agreement with Wilson, adding two of his candidates to its board and silencing Wilson’s public criticism of the company for 18 months, writes Forbes senior contributor Pamela Danziger.
—Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Meanwhile, Avila-Siqueiros was silencing the Warner bats, allowing just four walks and an error in the first five innings.
—Kevin J. Farmer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2026
Self-silencing pain and allowing it to be silenced, however, had not served me well.
—Nami Mun, The Atlantic, 16 May 2026
In this brilliant late-career work, Morrison shows that the United States of America and Americans are constantly shaping and reshaping a complicated tale, and that silencing or erasing parts of it is futile.
—Time, 12 May 2026
Shea Theodore had a goal and an assist and Brayden McNabb scored a short-handed goal as the Golden Knights stormed to a 5-0 lead after two periods, silencing a sellout crowd in Orange County and erasing memories of their rough offensive outing in Game 2.
—ABC News, 9 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for silencing
Verb
-
The snow was shushing off the roof of the garage and down on the driveway.—
Alan Gionet,
CBS News,
3 Dec. 2025
-
After tackling a lesbian Christmas rom-com, as well as bringing Tegan and Sara’s childhood to screen, shushing a shouting lesbian would be a walk in the park.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them,
3 July 2025
Verb
-
The older upper-room technology has been around since the 1930s and was effective at suppressing even measles transmission in classrooms.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Dec. 2025
-
But President Patrice Talon has faced accusations of suppressing criticism.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
8 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The backcourt duo combined to shoot seven of 11 from beyond the arc, quieting Halton’s crowd early and often.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Nov. 2025
-
The Tresemmé Lamellar Gloss Finishing Oil is what stands between you and shampoo-ad levels of shine, locking in luster and quieting frizz with its mix of sunflower, coconut, and macadamia oils.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Owens, who tried to reach third, was gunned down by left fielder Brendan Brock, quelling the early threat.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
7 June 2026
-
Centered on Zhong Kui, the iconic demon-quelling deity of Chinese folklore, the family-friendly adventure follows a young human girl named Chujiu who accidentally enters the underworld.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
But the field has struggled to figure out a means of delivering RNA-muting molecules into organs and tissues beyond the liver, which has limited their reach.—
Elaine Chen,
STAT,
9 June 2026
-
Historians have written about how the widespread fear and conformity of these periods reshaped American society in enduring ways, including the destruction of progressive political movements and both delaying and muting the Civil Rights Movement itself.—
Bruce Schneier,
The Conversation,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Officers then shot her with a Taser, subduing her enough to take her into custody, police said.—
City News Service,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
-
Trump thought the Secret Service did an excellent job subduing the gunman but the White House is reviewing security for major events for the country's 250th anniversary.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Brown shouts, hushing an entire happy hour.—
Jesse Dougherty,
Washington Post,
29 Jan. 2026
-
There are a lot of ways to declutter out there—the pile method and the discernment method are two of them, and now, everyone’s hushing their house.—
Quincy Bulin,
Southern Living,
28 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Daniel Morejón García, a former Ministry of Interior agent accused of repressing July 11 protesters in 2021 was deported to Cuba in July.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Sunny, for example, feels solidarity with his working-class immigrant neighbors in Queens while repressing the fact that his family funded his education with black money.—
Sanjena Sathian,
Vulture,
23 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Silencing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/silencing. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
