How to Use silence in a Sentence

silence

1 of 2 noun
  • The silence was broken by the sound of footsteps in the hallway.
  • We sat there in dead silence.
  • I find it hard to sleep unless there is complete silence.
  • The professor asked for silence.
  • There was an awkward silence after he confessed his love for her.
  • She finally ended her silence and spoke to the media about what happened.
  • A long silence followed her reply.
  • My sister's revelation was met with stunned silence.
  • I will not be intimidated into silence.
  • We must break 50 years of silence on issues like the government's involvement in assassination and espionage.
  • To let the silence do the work.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 6 June 2026
  • But as the film wore on—silence.
    — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 26 June 2026
  • For the next six years, silence.
    — Literary Hub, 31 Mar. 2026
  • In some case, all that is left is silence.
    — Literary Hub, 9 Apr. 2026
  • The room was thick with silence.
    — Loree Sutton, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
  • When the movie was over, there was silence.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 June 2026
  • In a world this aware, silence is a choice.
    — Letters To The Editor, Hartford Courant, 1 May 2026
  • What does the thought of such silences bring up for you?
    — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
  • The first step to stop silent burnout is to break the silence around it.
    — Mark C. Perna, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
  • Since then, all Newell has heard is silence.
    — Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 17 Mar. 2026
  • The law is not always the cure for silence.
    — Penny Abeywardena, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026
  • But the silence is pierced by the crushing of rock.
    — Julie Watson, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026
  • The course we are being asked to stay is one of silence.
    — Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Ward hung up and sat in silence for a few moments.
    — Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Nov. 2025
  • For a few moments, there was silence in the car.
    — Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
  • But silence is not the same as consent.
    — Monica Lewinsky, Rolling Stone, 19 May 2026
  • For a moment, the silence hung heavy in the room.
    — Nathan Furr, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • This was not the place for anonymity and silence.
    — Gaby Wood, Vogue, 21 Feb. 2026
  • To fill the silence, my son ventured a guess.
    — Matt Fogelson, Time, 21 June 2026
  • So the silence gets filled with fear and guesses.
    — Big Think, 4 May 2026

silence

2 of 2 verb
  • I will not be silenced!
  • The mayor tried to silence his critics.
  • It's obvious that the purpose of this law is to silence dissent.
  • Disconnecting the battery will silence the alarm.
  • My sister's revelation silenced everyone around the table.
  • Who gets to speak, and who gets silenced?
    — David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Sep. 2025
  • The priest held up his hand to silence the crowd.
    — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025
  • The best way to silence such talk is on the pitch.
    — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
  • But at the same time, I cannot be silenced.
    — Don Riddell, CNN Money, 17 Mar. 2026
  • But the Spurs have silenced the crowd so far.
    — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 11 June 2026
  • This will silence them and delay the case.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Of course, all of that talk could be silenced very quickly.
    — Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Shame shrinks us and silences our stories.
    — Carolyn O'Laughlin, CNN Money, 28 June 2026
  • Well, that’s one way to silence a heckler.
    — Julia Andersen, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025
  • An away end full of only the monied and tourists will all but silence the noise.
    — Andy Mitten, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Hate speech can silence its targets.
    — Stephanie A, The Conversation, 23 Feb. 2026
  • Those stories cannot be silenced.
    — Gypsy Guillén Kaiser, Fortune, 23 June 2026
  • The scent of smoke and the rhythm of song fill what silence the storm left behind.
    — David Culver, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Critics have not been silenced, though.
    — David Knutson, Twin Cities, 31 Dec. 2025
  • Carasso says he won’t be silenced.
    — Ariella Noveck, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026
  • Voices of Light will not be silenced.
    — Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Relieved, Sarah silenced her phone and went to sleep.
    — Brit McCandless Farmer, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
  • So too can silence be wielded to offer lessons.
    — Literary Hub, 30 Mar. 2026
  • That’s enough to silence any critics (for the time being).
    — The Athletic Cfb Staff, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025
  • The team in green silenced a sea of red and white with a sucker-punch of a goal from a set-play.
    — Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
  • The Panthers silenced the shocked crowd.
    — Luke Decock, Charlotte Observer, 2 Nov. 2025
  • My sister has often been silenced as well, leading to her need to be seen.
    — Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2026
  • To start by burning books, silencing thinkers.
    — Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2025
  • The alarm can be silenced, as well as tested, with the single push of a button.
    — Kevin Brouillard, Travel + Leisure, 28 Apr. 2023
  • Those who spoke up in self-defense were either silenced or co-opted.
    — Deborah Bonello, Los Angeles Times, 14 Nov. 2023

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'silence.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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