silence 1 of 2

noun

ˈsī-lən(t)s How to pronounce silence (audio)
Definition of silencenext
1
as in stillness
incapacity for or restraint from speaking the violinist expects complete silence from the audience during his concerts

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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

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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

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silence

2 of 2

verb

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

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2
as in to suppress
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force brutally silenced all political dissent in the country

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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 silence
Noun
Intruders prefer empty homes, visual obscurity, silence, easy entry and quick exits. — Kevin Brasler, Washington Post, 2 July 2026 Kritzler, meanwhile, said his own offer to buy the arena was met with silence from the Oakland Acquisition Company. — Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 4 July 2026
Verb
WhatsApp's current privacy settings are limited to blocking individual users and silencing unknown callers. — ABC News, 29 June 2026 The Soundcore P31i earbuds pack flagship technology into a pocket-sized design, featuring adaptive noise cancelling that can silence up to 52dB of external roar. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for silence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for silence
  1. stillness
  2. quiet
  3. obscurity
  4. shush
  5. suppress
  6. speechlessness
  7. quietness
  8. oblivion
Noun
  • As their lips touched, a stillness came over them even as the cane swayed and the dupatta wrapped itself around them.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 June 2026
  • Furthermore, stillness, the capacity to pause and gain perspective, is an underrated leadership skill, allowing for judgment over fear.
    — Alfonso Cahero, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of stillness
Noun
  • On Saturday afternoon, as tournament leaders played in the quiet of a clearing course and a low-slung sun, train whistles from the Long Island Railroad echoed clear across the land, offering reminders for the few who remained that their ride was leaving.
    — Brendan Quinn, New York Times, 21 June 2026
  • Wow that the quiet of Sunday surfaces feelings the rest of the week buries.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 27 May 2026
Definition of quiet
Noun
  • The short version is that after defeating the Kilrathi at the climax of Wing Commander 3, Mark Hamill’s Christopher Blair retires to a backwater world to live out a life in peace and obscurity.
    — Lee Hutchinson, ArsTechnica, 3 July 2026
  • He had been dressed as a woman among the king’s daughters in order to avoid participating in the Trojan War and ultimately his fate to die a young heroic death, as opposed to a long life of obscurity.
    — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of obscurity
Verb
  • His interactions with Daemon (Matt Smith) last season, going so far as to shush him at one point, were a breath of fresh air.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 June 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 shush
Verb
  • Record-setting heat is suspected in 25 deaths from the Deep South to the Midwest to the East Coast, authorities said, with the temperature highs also suppressing some Fourth of July celebrations.
    — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 5 July 2026
  • When coated onto a polypropylene separator with graphene, the material formed a thin interfacial layer that readily absorbed electrolyte while suppressing polysulfide migration.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026
Definition of suppress
Noun
  • Both men regularly bash Trump during their monologues, but the president’s tirade against the Pope left them puzzled to the point of near-speechlessness.
    — Zack Sharf, Variety, 14 Apr. 2026
  • Both brothers were intellectually precocious, but Scott could be shy to the point of speechlessness.
    — Eren Orbey, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Definition of speechlessness
Noun
  • To come up with its study, the company looked at different factors that equate to quietness, including monthly search volume, visitor ratings, average summer temperatures, access to nearby restaurants and bars, and availability of accommodations.
    — Kristine Hansen, Travel + Leisure, 9 June 2026
  • The last rays of the setting sun lit the distant Saw Tooth Mountains away to the west, while a quietness settled like a huge soft blanket spread over the wilderness.
    — Anton Money, Outdoor Life, 4 June 2026
Definition of quietness
Noun
  • Within a few decades, the towns and their landmarks slid into oblivion, sometimes abandoned or, at best, struggling along.
    — Rebecca Treon, Parents, 18 June 2026
  • In the last episode, there’s a phone call with Frederick’s mother, who’s either in total denial or oblivion toward the situation.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 June 2026
Definition of oblivion

Browse Nearby Words

silages
silence
silenced
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Cite this Entry

“Silence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/silence. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on silence

Nglish: Translation of silence for Spanish Speakers

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