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
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 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
Jesus stilled storms, walked on water, challenged evil beliefs, and brought health, harmony, and safety to the world.
—Pam Debolt, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Dec. 2025
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
Jesus stilled storms, walked on water, challenged evil beliefs, and brought health, harmony, and safety to the world.
—Pam Debolt, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Dec. 2025
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
-
Candidates who challenge the powerful can draw strong but silent support, because there is open fear of reprisals from city officials against those who back any challenger to the people in charge.—
Susan Shelley,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
-
First, there’s Green Chartreuse, a beguiling and almost hallucinogenically intense combination of 132 secret ingredients, which have been infused and distilled into high-proof alcohol by silent French monks since at least 1764, and probably quite a bit longer than that.—
Jason O'Bryan,
Robb Report,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Not that long after, a guard near the New York Stock Exchange stopped me.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
31 May 2026
-
Stosic delivered one giant hammer fist to Hardy’s jaw and the referee came in and stopped the bout.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
Houston calmed himself all night by thinking of his expecting wife and the blessings of fatherhood.—
Ian O'Connor,
New York Times,
26 May 2026
-
Agents and protesters stood face-to-face before the situation calmed down.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
The Giants offense got shushed Wednesday night by Shohei Ohtani, and their hitters went down almost as quietly against right-hander Emmet Sheehan.—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
To the point where Reid shushed him down at times.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
22 Apr. 2026
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
-
The country’s growth outlook has darkened due to the ongoing Middle East conflict, which has effectively halted oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz, pushing up energy and commodities prices globally.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
3 June 2026
-
The World Health Organization halted its trial of hydroxychloroquine after a large, randomized study conducted in the United Kingdom found the drug lacked any apparent effect on mortality when treating COVID-19.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
In your arms, your baby begins to cry and cry and will not be soothed.—
Alexandra Petri,
The Atlantic,
3 June 2026
-
Hall remembers being at a homegoing service for a youth lost to gun violence – witnessing a room filled with hurt, chaos, young people all over the place, Spencer came in like Casper, the Friendly Ghost – soothed the family and changed the temperature in the room without grabbing the mic.—
Darcel Rockett,
Chicago Tribune,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Since then authorities have increasingly silenced dissent.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 June 2026
-
Simley falls The Spartans’ usually potent offense was silenced by freshman phenom Caliegh Barrone in Simley’s 5-0 quarterfinal defeat.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stilled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stilled. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
