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
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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
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Recent Examples of silencing
Dozens of pending lawsuits accuse churches of shielding predators, silencing victims and allowing abuse to fester unchecked.
—
Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 30 Oct. 2025
The British did not have legislation as all-silencing as this.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 29 Oct. 2025
Advertisement Anger is not the enemy Emotion regulation should never mean silencing anger.
—Marc Brackett, Time, 28 Oct. 2025
Now, the Kremlin’s focus has shifted to silencing opposition abroad.
—Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2025
The Los Angeles Dodgers, after silencing the Milwaukee Brewers, 5-1, Tuesday night in front of a subdued crowd at American Family Field, are putting on one of the most dominant pitching clinics in the league.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025
Young Democrats are also more critical of Israel than their older peers, so any vote that could be perceived as silencing pro-Palestinian voices is risky.
—Calmatters, Mercury News, 14 Oct. 2025
After the state distributor Embrafilme was dismantled in 1990, national production nearly collapsed, silencing a generation of filmmakers.
—Lise Pedersen, Variety, 12 Oct. 2025
To start by burning books, silencing thinkers.
—Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2025
Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 30 Oct. 2025
The British did not have legislation as all-silencing as this.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 29 Oct. 2025
Advertisement Anger is not the enemy Emotion regulation should never mean silencing anger.
—Marc Brackett, Time, 28 Oct. 2025
Now, the Kremlin’s focus has shifted to silencing opposition abroad.
—Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2025
The Los Angeles Dodgers, after silencing the Milwaukee Brewers, 5-1, Tuesday night in front of a subdued crowd at American Family Field, are putting on one of the most dominant pitching clinics in the league.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025
Young Democrats are also more critical of Israel than their older peers, so any vote that could be perceived as silencing pro-Palestinian voices is risky.
—Calmatters, Mercury News, 14 Oct. 2025
After the state distributor Embrafilme was dismantled in 1990, national production nearly collapsed, silencing a generation of filmmakers.
—Lise Pedersen, Variety, 12 Oct. 2025
To start by burning books, silencing thinkers.
—Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for silencing
Verb
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In the clip, the then-6-year-old can be seen walking with his iPad to the next room and shushing everyone.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
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Booing begins, and then shushing, and then booing again.—
Matthew Shen Goodman,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The White House’s efforts to centralize federal grantmaking, restrict free speech, erase public data and expand surveillance mirror China’s successful playbook for building scientific capacity while suppressing dissent.—
Kenneth M. Evans,
The Conversation,
3 Nov. 2025
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The basic idea is that oxidative stress is a signal that tells your body to adapt and get stronger, so suppressing that signal by taking antioxidants results in less training adaptation.—
Alex Hutchinson,
Outside,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Blue Jays went on to stun the Dodgers that night, taking the first game 11-4 and quieting early speculation that they would be swept in four games by the defending champs.—
Paula Newton,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
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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
-
Mann also had a steal and subsequent layup near the tail end of the first quarter, quelling any fears about his health after missing most of last season with a back issue.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Oct. 2025
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Ellis last week expanded her restraining order, requiring all federal agents with body cameras involved in quelling protests to have them on when encountering demonstrators.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The newsroom union claims the change is throttling staff diversity and muting the magazine’s progressive political bent.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Nov. 2025
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And Democrats will remain the side fond of muting dissent.—
Newsweek Contributors,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Giants won in all kinds of encouraging ways while subduing the wild-card-leading Cubs in a 5-2 victory Tuesday night.—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
27 Aug. 2025
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The two also showed a demonstration of what a K9 takedown looks like, with Humphries acting as a target and K9 Bob subduing him.—
Richard Requena,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
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This week is pushing you to speak up and stop repressing your truth.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
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Critics, though, have argued that these efforts are serving to distract from the country’s record of repressing free speech and dissent, as well as human rights violations, which have been widely reported.—
Marni Rose McFall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Silencing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/silencing. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
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