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
Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026
Hostilities were temporarily stilled by a ceasefire, but fighting resumed in early December.
—John Vink, The Dial, 10 Mar. 2026
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
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
My limbs stilled and grew heavy in the heat, but Alice jiggled her knees up and down, bursting out with short spurts of conversation that weighed against the beauty of our silence.
—Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026
Hostilities were temporarily stilled by a ceasefire, but fighting resumed in early December.
—John Vink, The Dial, 10 Mar. 2026
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
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
-
Imogen Poots stars as silent film star Gloria Swanson, who had a passionate affair with Joe Kennedy Sr.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
-
With the help of a silent backer, the designer establishes Schiaparelli Pour le Sport at 4 rue de la Paix.—
Laird Borrelli-Persson,
Vogue,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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His words were underscored when police in Israel stopped Catholic leaders from celebrating a private Palm Sunday Mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, built on the spot where Jesus was thought to have been crucified.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Right away, the Bruins allowed point-blank chances to Zach Werenski and Boone Jenner in the opening minutes that Swayman stopped.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The United States ended up the loser, particularly vis-à-vis China, but at least the storms calmed.—
Nicholas D. Kristof,
Mercury News,
21 Mar. 2026
-
After undergoing a full-scale revamp last offseason, the waters have calmed on the Texas Rangers' television front.—
R.J. Coyle,
Dallas Morning News,
18 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
-
Unlike most toddlers with similar ambitions, however, Caldwell continued his excavation for over two years, until bedrock finally halted his efforts.—
Namir Khaliq,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The program was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.—
Nicole Buss,
Sacbee.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Himalayan pink salt, rich in 80 minerals, works to draw out impurities, while Centella asiatica helps keep everything calm and soothed.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Investors appeared soothed by the software firm’s across-the-board beat, amid fears about the company’s hefty debt load funding its AI buildout.—
Nur Hikmah Md Ali,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The policy requires that all cellphones and other personal tech devices be out of sight and silenced during the school day.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Maybe Hollywood has been silenced.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stilled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stilled. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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