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
-
While current work on the development is silent, crews are only waiting for county permits to build, the developer said.—
Larry Seward,
Miami Herald,
13 Feb. 2026
-
History has shown us time and again that meaningful change often begins when young people refuse to stay silent.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
That has not stopped him from being a frequent guest on cable and network television.—
Max Rego,
The Hill,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Only recently had many countries stopped treating solo female travelers as a problem to be managed, no longer refusing them hotel rooms when traveling without a man, or denying them credit cards to pay for it.—
Lilit Marcus,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The former London Film Festival head was seen as having successfully calmed the waters, through mediation and discussion behind the scenes, as well as a carefully thought through set of guidelines on the festival’s position on freedom of expression, antisemitism and support for Palestinians.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
16 Feb. 2026
-
But the rain calmed concerns that the state was heading into a severe dry spell, washed the soot and grit out of the air, and boosted conditions at Lake Tahoe area ski resorts.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 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
-
Federal agencies halted overdose-surveillance networks, delayed youth smoking data, scaled back food-safety pathogen monitoring and purged transgender health information from websites.—
Mike Stobbe,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Lumley said the progress of the bill halted in 2025 due to conflicts with some of the agricultural groups in the state.—
Cami Koons,
Iowa Capital Dispatch,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Calming botanicals like aloe, turmeric, and holy basil round things out, keeping skin comfortable and soothed.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The falling dews seemed to strain and purify the air, and I was soothed with an infinite stillness.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But Brunson quickly silenced the doubters.—
Tom Kludt,
Vanity Fair,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Whistled from the start of his Marseille career, Tudor silenced the sceptics in an atmosphere far more hostile than the one awaiting him in north London.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stilled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stilled. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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