1
as in stopped
to bring (something) to a standstill
it seemed as though nothing could still the fighting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in calmed
to free from distress or disturbance
reading a book helps me to relax and still my mind before going to bed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stilled
Ryan Oehrli
updated February 6, Charlotte Observer, 6 Feb. 2026
After two years, the brutal war that started with Hamas' seizure of hostages and led to Israel's bombardment of Gaza was stilled.
—Susan Page, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025
The service lasted more than five hours, but the moment that stilled the crowd came when his widow, Erika, spoke of her husband’s killer in the language of absolution.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2025
Some of The Subjects were named, which stilled the others.
—Leila Chatti
september 5, Literary Hub, 5 Sep. 2025
An intense defensive matchup in the boys' semifinals round ended in another sudden-death round that stilled the entire crowd while sending LA's Terron Williams to the finals.
—Devin Robertson, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Verb
Suddenly, the noise in their home stilled.
—Ryan Oehrli
updated February 6, Charlotte Observer, 6 Feb. 2026
After two years, the brutal war that started with Hamas' seizure of hostages and led to Israel's bombardment of Gaza was stilled.
—Susan Page, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025
The service lasted more than five hours, but the moment that stilled the crowd came when his widow, Erika, spoke of her husband’s killer in the language of absolution.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2025
Some of The Subjects were named, which stilled the others.
—Leila Chatti
september 5, Literary Hub, 5 Sep. 2025
An intense defensive matchup in the boys' semifinals round ended in another sudden-death round that stilled the entire crowd while sending LA's Terron Williams to the finals.
—Devin Robertson, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stilled
Adjective
-
The internet does not work and mobiles are silent.—
Marc Weingarten,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Rosi returns repeatedly to this theater, and to other films about the area, including the silent-era Last Days of Pompeii, suggesting that his own film might itself be part of an ongoing archival plunder.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The threat of Iranian missile and drone attacks has all but stopped tankers carrying oil and gas from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Iran from traveling through the strait, which is bordered in the north by Iran.—
Alex Veiga,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
However, access stopped after airstrikes hit Iran’s major nuclear facilities at Fordow and Natanz.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Young calmed himself enough to live up to the lofty billing.—
Josh Robbins,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Trump’s assurance of safe passage of tankers in the Strait of Hormuz calmed market jitters initially, though shares in Dubai and Abu Dhabi opened sharply down after markets resumed trading for the first time since the war began.—
Alaa Shahine Salha,
semafor.com,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Some shushed the crowds, urging them to be silent and reverent.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Jena asked, for which she was shushed), that was spotted and strong enough to kill a man.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The detonation of the bombs brought a terrible wonder, a soundless blast of light and colors never seen before, and never seen again.—
R. Daniel Foster,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Connor Hellebuyck had 30 saves for the Jets, who saw their three-game win streak and six-game point streak halted.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
-
To balance the budget last year, Newsom and the Legislature halted Medi-Cal enrollment for undocumented immigrants beginning in January, and imposed a $30 premium on those already enrolled, beginning in July 2027.—
Andrew Graham
March 9,
Sacbee.com,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Miscommunications soothed with a kiss (and maybe even an actually good proposal)!—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
26 Feb. 2026
-
That’s thanks to an ingredient list stacked with hydrating glycerin and squalane, plus ceramides and cholesterol that, together, lock moisture in to keep skin smooth and soothed all day long.—
Sarah Felbin,
Allure,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Horvat knocked in his team-leading 27th goal on a backhand shot that silenced the crowd in San Jose.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 Mar. 2026
-
The stylus is then lowered for play, with the grinding sounds of the servo simultaneously silenced.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stilled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stilled. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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