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
Or unintentionally silencing voices and limiting possibilities?
—
Rick Burton, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2025
In a prerecorded message, Lee said silencing a voice cannot silence an idea and urged attendees to carry on Kirk’s mission.
—Alex J. Rouhandeh, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
In the decades since, silencing of even that watered-down (if in some ways more accurate) term has been linked to fossil fuel companies suppressing science to boost profits.
—Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 1 Oct. 2025
According to the mission report, such cases amount to collective punishment — silencing not just individuals, but entire families.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2025
The legislature is now a poster child for silencing dissent.
—Amy Stephens, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2025
That in many ways is even more dangerous than silencing one person, no disrespect, of course, to Jimmy Kimmel and his powerful voice.
—NBC news, 21 Sep. 2025
Time and again, history’s advance has been imagined to depend on silencing or destroying a single figure – the rival who becomes the ultimate, despicable foe.
—Maurizio Valsania, The Conversation, 12 Sep. 2025
Being corporate should mean being competent, communicative, and respectful; not silencing your personality, culture, or humanity.
—Maxine Harrison, Refinery29, 12 Sep. 2025
Rick Burton, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2025
In a prerecorded message, Lee said silencing a voice cannot silence an idea and urged attendees to carry on Kirk’s mission.
—Alex J. Rouhandeh, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
In the decades since, silencing of even that watered-down (if in some ways more accurate) term has been linked to fossil fuel companies suppressing science to boost profits.
—Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 1 Oct. 2025
According to the mission report, such cases amount to collective punishment — silencing not just individuals, but entire families.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2025
The legislature is now a poster child for silencing dissent.
—Amy Stephens, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2025
That in many ways is even more dangerous than silencing one person, no disrespect, of course, to Jimmy Kimmel and his powerful voice.
—NBC news, 21 Sep. 2025
Time and again, history’s advance has been imagined to depend on silencing or destroying a single figure – the rival who becomes the ultimate, despicable foe.
—Maurizio Valsania, The Conversation, 12 Sep. 2025
Being corporate should mean being competent, communicative, and respectful; not silencing your personality, culture, or humanity.
—Maxine Harrison, Refinery29, 12 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for silencing
Verb
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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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Defensively, Matt Roy, Trevor van Riemsdyk and Martin Fehervary all excel at suppressing chances, complementing the team’s two star defenders well.—
The Athletic NHL,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
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China has manipulated the market by suppressing prices to drive Western competition from the market, said Ryan Castilloux, founder of Adamas Intelligence, a critical mineral market research firm.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
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Nine of those points came in a 16-0 third quarter run that turned a seven-point deficit into a 61-52 lead heading to the fourth, quieting the packed house in San Francisco’s Chase Center.—
Mike Cook,
Twin Cities,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Rather than quelling terrorist attacks, permanently suppressing Palestinian aspirations would likely fuel an endless insurgency.—
Bloomberg Opinion,
Twin Cities,
16 Sep. 2025
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Giddey also took a significant step toward quelling concerns about him as a shooter.—
Bobby Krivitsky,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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And Democrats will remain the side fond of muting dissent.—
Newsweek Contributors,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
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Echo chambers can emerge, amplifying consensus while muting dissenting expertise.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 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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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Silencing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/silencing. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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