1
as in speechless
deliberately refraining from speech
the suddenly silent child had to be prompted to say hello
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in reserved
tending not to speak frequently (as by habit or inclination)
a naturally silent boy, he was often overshadowed by his louder siblings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in quieted
mostly or entirely without sound
the room was so silent that you could have heard the proverbial pin drop
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in talkie
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of silent
ABC News, 3 June 2026
Instead of celebrating the occasion with music or dance, the building would fall silent.
—Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 3 June 2026
Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2025
Meanwhile the Sierra Madre Playhouse, built for the silents, has become the L.A. area’s newest performing arts center, where Wild Up will be in residence.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for silent
Adjective
The hearing, during which Calhoun remained silent, came after he was indicted last week on the most recent second-degree murder charge over the death of Ashley Real, 22, in 2023.
—ABC News, 3 June 2026
Instead of celebrating the occasion with music or dance, the building would fall silent.
—Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 3 June 2026
Noun
From there, the offense went radio silent.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2025
Meanwhile the Sierra Madre Playhouse, built for the silents, has become the L.A. area’s newest performing arts center, where Wild Up will be in residence.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for silent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for silent
Adjective
-
His friends, from brother Luigi (Charlie Day) to Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) veer in a similar direction, somehow coming across less fully formed and three-dimensional than their nearly speechless inspirations from Nintendo‘s flagship franchise.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
31 Mar. 2026
-
In helicopter video taken by Air Maui Helicopter Tours in Lahaina and posted online the people aboard are largely speechless.—
Phil Helsel,
NBC News,
10 Aug. 2023
Adjective
-
Liam is slightly more reserved and is the lethal, heavy finisher.—
Thomas Drance,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
-
Fetterman's criticism of Platner marks a break from other Senate Democrats, who have been more reserved on the issue.—
Finch Walker,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
The story’s ending hinges on a small, almost wordless exchange.—
Sabrina Jaszi,
The Dial,
28 May 2026
-
Looking at them fills her with a wordless unease.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
When a court issues a domestic violence protective order, federal law prohibits the restrained person from possessing a gun.—
Sativa Banks,
The Conversation,
4 June 2026
-
Though America’s founders, of course, did not always live up to these ideals themselves, this early reform shows us that American justice was meant to be resolute, principled, and restrained.—
Ana Zamora,
Time,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
This is quiet luxury in hotel form.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
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And yet art-world institutions—including major museums, schools, commercial galleries, and publishing outlets—have mostly avoided the fawning capitulation of universities and Democrats, simply going quiet in the hope of escaping notice for the next three years.—
Katy Siegel,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
The 24-minute short premiered at the Mystic Film Festival in 2025 and has since been seen at festivals in Italy, Slovakia, Canada and elsewhere.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
2 June 2026
-
The documentary short is produced by Ryan Biegel, Vicky Liu, and Holly Siegel.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
Kimiko uttered one word during the season five finale, which signified a return to form for her character, who was mute throughout the first four installments of the series.—
McKinley Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
23 May 2026
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In Indian Princesses, Rodriguez and her director, Miranda Cornell, score silences and moments of mute, physicalized frustration with just as much precision and pathos as the play’s speech, often with more.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
The New York Knicks’ president, a stout, taciturn man, surly about the mouth, who spurns engagement with the media but whose competence no contemporary Knicks follower can gainsay, stands in a crowd, surrounded by cheering fans.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
2 June 2026
-
The club took him in and allowed the shy, taciturn boy to develop into one of Italian football’s most celebrated leaders.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Silent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/silent. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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