hushed 1 of 2

adjective

1
as in quiet
free from disturbing noise or uproar entered the hushed interior of the Gothic church

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2
as in tranquil
free from storms or physical disturbance the hushed lake was smooth as glass the morning after the storm

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3
as in quieted
mostly or entirely without sound a hushed sickroom

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4
as in confidential
not known or meant to be known by the general populace hushed negotiations between the two countries

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hushed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of hush
1
as in cooled
to become still and orderly the whole room hushed when the queen made her entrance

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2
as in quieted (down)
to stop talking the principal asked the children to hush and pay attention during the ceremony

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3
as in shushed
to stop the noise or speech of he tried to hush the baby by making a lot of silly faces

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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 hushed
Adjective
Set the scene Despite being just a stone’s throw from Oxford Street, the hotel has a hushed air and a seriously exclusive crowd. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026 In other words, get ready to read a lot and yet, surprisingly, to enjoy the immersion, as one might the hushed thrill of a surveillance sequence. — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026 In their eloquence and their ways of avoiding easy comfort, the poems also deal with the hushed experience of surviving someone else’s death and fulfill the urge to say something not only real and true but formal and exact, as though for a ceremony. — Colm Tóibín, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026 That ultimate truth had been given to them on their journey — a word said in a hushed voice. — Claire Hoffman, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026 The violins dig into the first three notes of a rising theme — only to tumble suddenly into a hushed dance, which Mahler marks grazioso. — Justin Davidson, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026 But when, 30 minutes in, the discussion turns to the man who had more impact on Wasim’s cricketing career than any other, the answers become more hushed and halting. — James Wallace, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026 The smell of freshly ground espresso and incense fills the air, and staff speak to patients in hushed, discreet tones, almost as if discussing state secrets. — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 Palmer himself paced the room on a phone call, doling out smiles of encouragement and inspiring a hushed reverence in his wake. — Colleen McNally Arnett, Southern Living, 20 Aug. 2026
Verb
Hans Op de Beeck’s first dalliance with a luxury house feels a lot like his art — hushed, contemplative, and slightly under the radar. — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026 The lounge is a real scene, especially during afternoon tea, when a perfectly coiffed crowd has hushed discussions about worldly matters. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026 The normally festive and rowdy crowd inside the basketball arena in Dallas quickly hushed as a five-minute memorial video began playing. — ABC News, 10 Sep. 2026 Moments ago, the courtroom was hushed when the mistrial was declared, marking an emotional close for this jury in the nearly six-week trial. — Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 4 Sep. 2026 Salesforce has clearly hushed the skeptics on Wednesday night. — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026 The impact is lavish yet hushed; welcoming yet sharply articulated. — Genevieve Walker, Architectural Digest, 2 Aug. 2026 But within the cozy world of footballing governance, any dissent was mostly hushed—except in Norway. — Tom Kludt, Vanity Fair, 17 July 2026 Behind the station doors are 150 polished European-style rooms, hushed corridors and a few magnificent surprises. — David Hochman, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hushed
  1. quiet
  2. tranquil
  3. silent
  4. confidential
  5. cooled
  6. dried up
  7. shushed
  8. peaceful
Adjective
  • After a quiet day otherwise, Riley exploded for 33- and 72-yard rushing touchdowns to finish as the game’s leading rusher with 128 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 25 Oct. 2026
  • But following intense backlash to the 2024 anti-war protests, some students, faculty and external observers say campuses have become uncharacteristically quiet.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of quiet
Adjective
  • Bedrooms are tranquil and restorative, with clean lines, balconies, and mountain views that create a sense of space.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 July 2026
  • Located right across the water from Miami, Key Biscayne is filled with tranquil experiences in nature, delicious dining options with incredible views of the water, and even a little bit of history to explore.
    — Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 13 June 2026
Definition of tranquil
Adjective
  • William has largely remained silent about the brothers' estrangement and has not publicly expressed a desire to repair their relationship.
    — Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Weigand spends much of his time on house calls, reviving cherished heirlooms that have long fallen silent.
    — La'Tasha Givens, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of silent
Adjective
  • In April, a US Army soldier was arrested and charged with using confidential information to make $410,000 in Polymarket bets on the timing of the military’s capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
    — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Keeping the information confidential was consistent with state protocol, a spokesperson in his department said, adding that it was still shared with local health officials.
    — Nat Lash, ProPublica, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of confidential
Verb
  • As winds and light showers cooled the temperature from the 70s into the 60s, Boise collected more than half an inch of rain.
    — Hali Smith October 23, Idaho Statesman, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Intriguingly, the pseudogap-like signature emerged even when the electrons had cooled below the temperature at which the material normally becomes superconducting.
    — Sven Badoux, New Atlas, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of cooled
Verb
  • But the drought that set the stage for the fires has dried up Baltzor's hay meadows, too.
    — Anna King, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Al-Shahid, a hair salon owner, said her income also dried up a few weeks ago.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of dried up
Verb
  • They were repeatedly shushed instead as the Nittany Lions (3-3, 0-3) fell to 13-10 in their marquee event after failing to keep pace with a USC offense that averaged nearly eight yards per play through the first three quarters.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Oct. 2026
  • As the moment unfolded, Savannah shushed the future king and even briefly placed her hand over his mouth in an effort to keep him composed.
    — Staff Author, InStyle, 13 June 2026
Definition of shushed
Adjective
  • But this month, the most violent demonstrations in years — and tough policing — have raised concern about riots overshadowing hundreds of thousands of peaceful demonstrators marching against rising living costs and poor conditions in schools.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026
  • As for the suites, the highlight is their private terraces, peaceful havens from which to admire, paradoxically, the urban whirlwind swirling below.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of peaceful

Browse Nearby Words

hush
hushed
hushed (up)
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Cite this Entry

“Hushed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hushed. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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