SILENT TREATMENT Synonyms: 17 Similar and Opposite Words

silent treatment

noun

Definition of silent treatment

as in dismissal

treatment that is deliberately unfriendly ever since our run-in at the party she's been giving me the silent treatment

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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 treatment In the present, they’re awkwardly reunited for his brother’s destination wedding in Barcelona, following two years of mutual silent treatment. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 8 Jan. 2026 Destructive silent treatment creates an imbalanced power dynamic in the relationship. — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025 Brit greets everyone, including Kelli, who opts for the ever-mature silent treatment. — Shelby Stewart, Essence, 22 June 2025 Modern nineteenth-century prisons in various parts of the world, including in the British empire, began to model their own prisons off of the Eastern State Penitentiary, instituting separate and silent treatments that suppressed language. — Amir Hussain june 6, Literary Hub, 6 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for silent treatment

Recent Examples of Synonyms for silent treatment

Noun

The former defence minister is popular among younger Ukrainians and his dismissal in July sparked protests across the country.

— Will Barker, TheWeek, 20 Aug. 2026
Opinion polls taken in recent weeks show that Fedorov has grown popular enough in Ukraine since his dismissal to pose a serious challenge to Zelensky in a presidential race.

— Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of dismissal

Noun

The rebuff contributes to the future civil war known as the Dance of the Dragons, in which Rhaenyra battles her half-brother Aegon II (Tom Glynn-Carney) for the seat of power.

— Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 30 July 2026
Despite the Reina Sofía’s many refusals to lend the work to various institutions around the world, its rebuff of the Guggenheim’s request carries a particular sting because the Basque Country has long held that the painting belongs in the place where the depicted tragedy occurred.

— News Desk, Artforum, 1 Apr. 2026

Definition of rebuff

Noun

Social media’s instant rejection of Netflix’s Qwikster spinoff, for instance, forced the company to scuttle that bad idea almost immediately after it was introduced in 2011.

— Josef Adalian, Vulture, 21 Aug. 2026
After all, the billionaire founder lived a whirlwind of a career, turning down lucrative job offers and weathering professional rejection before ultimately launching one of the world’s biggest biotech companies.

— Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of rejection

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silents

silent treatment

silent treatments

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“Silent treatment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/silent%20treatment. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of silent treatment

noun

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