1
as in mute
deliberately refraining from speech
the suddenly silent child had to be prompted to say hello
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 silent
James O'Connell, New York Daily News, 13 June 2025
Johnson has been previously pressed by reporters and colleagues about the delay in hanging the plaque, but has remained silent on a timeline for hanging the honorary marker.
—Scott MacFarlane, CBS News, 12 June 2025
Vulture, 24 Jan. 2023
So the various greenhouses and whatnots were familiar to Martha-content enthusiasts as the vans quickly took us past the beautiful part of her property toward the far less handsome back end, where a near-silent feeding frenzy was underway.
—Curbed, 25 Apr. 2022
See All Example Sentences for silent
Adjective
The Bombers’ offense was silent without its Captain as Aaron Judge received his first off night of the season before the Yanks head to Fenway Park on Friday for a three-game set with the Red Sox.
—James O'Connell, New York Daily News, 13 June 2025
Johnson has been previously pressed by reporters and colleagues about the delay in hanging the plaque, but has remained silent on a timeline for hanging the honorary marker.
—Scott MacFarlane, CBS News, 12 June 2025
Noun
The Meahers, who own much of the land around Africatown, remain conspicuously off-screen and silent.
—Vulture, 24 Jan. 2023
So the various greenhouses and whatnots were familiar to Martha-content enthusiasts as the vans quickly took us past the beautiful part of her property toward the far less handsome back end, where a near-silent feeding frenzy was underway.
—Curbed, 25 Apr. 2022
See All Example Sentences for silent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for silent
Adjective
-
Please check back again soon for the recorded video. LIVE VIDEO TO BEGIN AFTER AD Loaded: 0% Progress: 0% Use up and down arrows to change volume, and spacebar or enter to toggle mute.—
Louryn Strampe,
Wired News,
13 June 2025
-
The hallway is a nearly solid mass of tourists who trudge forward grim and mute as prisoners chained together at the ankles, condemned to the gallows.—
Caity Weaver,
The Atlantic,
5 June 2025
Adjective
-
To serve, garnish with the reserved strawberry slices.—
Georgeanne Brennan,
Mercury News,
5 June 2025
-
Related Stories John Oliver Compares HBO Max/Max Branding Fiasco to Trump's Renaming the Gulf of Mexico Ardant stars as Nathalie de Beauvillier, the manor’s reserved and eccentric lady, while Dequenne delivers one of her final screen performances as Odile, the spirited cook.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
4 June 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
Because his work, as is often the case, leaves us almost speechless.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Jan. 2023
Adjective
-
Ratajkowski has been fighting the stereotype of the dumb model from the beginning of her career.—
Daniel Jackson,
Allure,
18 July 2017
-
Ninety nine percent of all NFL players are explicitly not dumb.—
Andy Benoit,
The MMQB,
10 July 2017
Adjective
-
For those looking to venture farther, Cruz Bay’s private itineraries stretch deep into the BVI, blending gourmet dining, reef diving, and quiet anchorages into one seamless luxurious adventure.—
Tanya Benedicto Klich,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
-
Ideally, your room is dark, quiet and cool — think between 65 and 75 degrees.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 June 2025
Noun
-
The denim selection spans ’90s shorts and miniskirts, Bermuda shorts, rompers and dresses to flare, straight, skinny and skate jeans.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
10 June 2025
-
The offering includes jerseys in both Authentic and Replica versions for each team as well as retro shirts, graphic tees, shorts, pants and a reversible jacket.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
10 June 2025
Adjective
-
In past decades, the impact of the deficit was more muted, as relatively small amounts of additional funding were needed to keep the government functional.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 June 2025
-
Clad in heavy end-grain cedar blocks, sandblasted to a muted and almost rocklike finish, the house disappears into its landscape of trees.—
Caroline Roux,
Architectural Digest,
5 June 2025
Adjective
-
The company expects ongoing cautious consumer behavior amid persistent inflation, leading to restrained discretionary spending, especially on high-ticket products.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
-
Wirtz, especially, can look awkward in Julian Nagelsmann’s team, and is used in a comparatively restrained way.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
28 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Silent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/silent. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share