1
as in stillness
incapacity for or restraint from speaking
the violinist expects complete silence from the audience during his concerts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in quiet
the near or complete absence of sound
the silence of the garden was refreshing after the din of the party inside
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in obscurity
the quality or state of being mostly or completely unknown
the book eventually vanished into the silence that awaits best sellers whose time has past
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to quiet
to stop the noise or speech of
the instructor quickly silenced anyone who tried to interrupt we need to have a repairman come and silence that door alarm
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to suppress
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force
brutally silenced all political dissent in the country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of silence
Josh Rivera, USA Today, 8 July 2025
The silence that often follows these atrocities compounds the violence.
—Alessia Glaviano, Vogue, 7 July 2025
Melissa Brown, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
The latest research shows that years of hearing damage can silence quieter tones, such as the purr of a cat settling on your lap.
—Brianne Kane, Scientific American, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for silence
Noun
Lying down in silence amid the noise of a parade was powerful.
—Josh Rivera, USA Today, 8 July 2025
The silence that often follows these atrocities compounds the violence.
—Alessia Glaviano, Vogue, 7 July 2025
Verb
For the second transgression, the member would be silenced for two legislative days.
—Melissa Brown, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
The latest research shows that years of hearing damage can silence quieter tones, such as the purr of a cat settling on your lap.
—Brianne Kane, Scientific American, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for silence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for silence
Noun
-
Someone had accidentally triggered the emergency services feature on an iPhone, and an alarm sound sliced through the quiet of the New York Yankees’ clubhouse.—
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
6 July 2025
-
If her body isn’t always willing, her mind and her heart are still keen on the sport, so Press makes her most valuable contributions now in the quiet of the locker room.—
Houston Mitchell,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2025
Noun
-
Without these, even the most advanced models may languish in obscurity.—
Vivian Toh,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
-
Hometown beauty queen Barbara Parker is plucked from obscurity and rebranded as Sophie Straw, the star of the BBC’s latest hit comedy.—
Mia Barzilay Freund,
Vogue,
7 July 2025
Verb
-
For a start, the cheers from the nearby Andy Murray Arena are loud and booming, but so too is the exclusive balcony area hanging just to the side of the court, where people are sipping their wine or their Pimm’s and chatting loudly (the judge on court 1 has to shush them at one point).—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
20 June 2025
-
The crowd had just spent an entire overtime shushing each other.—
Tony East,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
Verb
-
The building’s sprinkler system suppressed the flames before firefighters completed their operations, bringing the fire under control in under 30 minutes, officials said.—
Aurora Beacon-News,
Chicago Tribune,
11 July 2025
-
That same resolution created Palestine, which Israel has refused to recognize and has fought to suppress ever since.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
The Movie features Brad Pitt as a fallen Formula One star who upshifts back from career oblivion and personal wreckage to the pinnacle of racing.—
Chris Lee,
Vulture,
27 June 2025
-
However, the most promising of these, a mission named OSIRIS-Apex that breathes new life into an old spacecraft that otherwise would drift into oblivion, is slated for cancellation by the Trump White House's budget for fiscal year 2026.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
27 June 2025
Verb
-
Inside the airy courtroom, hushed spectators, including Combs’ mother and six adult children, sat on wooden benches.—
Marco della Cava,
USA Today,
3 July 2025
-
Ominous guitar accompanies hopeful strings; Chatten's vocals range from breathy, hushed tones to intense speak-singing.—
Audrey Gibbs,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
Verb
-
After years of smoking to help quell her anxiety, Tish found that the drug only made things worse.—
Marina Watts,
People.com,
15 July 2025
-
Don’t have a problem using the National Guard to quell rioting in Los Angeles, your anti-democracy.—
Chris Roemer,
Baltimore Sun,
3 July 2025
Noun
-
The Sun Sentinel put those questions to a long-time NBA scout, who requested anonymity because of his work with another team.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
11 July 2025
-
While a few releases establish a buzz on the festival circuit, most arrive behind a curtain of anonymity.—
Peter Bart,
Deadline,
10 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Silence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/silence. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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