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Definitions

pipe down

VERB
mute
Synonyms
STRONGEST
dampen soften subdue
STRONG
benumb deaden drown gag hush lower moderate muzzle reduce silence soft pedal
WEAK
bottle up cork up decrease the volume keep it down put damper on put the lid on turn down
Antonyms
STRONG
free increase let go liberate raise strengthen
WEAK
articulate speak voice
VERB
quieten
Synonyms
STRONG
clam dampen deaden dull extinguish gag hush lull muffle mute muzzle overawe quash quell quiet shush soft pedal squelch stifle still subdue suppress tongue-tie
WEAK
choke off clam up close up cool it cut off cut short decrease the volume dry up dumb dummy up hold one's tongue hush one's mouth hush-hush keep it down quiet down say nothing shut up sit on strike dumb
Antonyms
STRONG
agitate allow disturb encourage help irritate let go release start
VERB
shush
Synonyms
STRONG
clam dampen deaden dull extinguish gag hush lull muffle mute muzzle overawe quash quell quiet quieten soft pedal squelch stifle still subdue suppress tongue-tie
WEAK
choke off clam up close up cool it cut off cut short decrease the volume dry up dumb dummy up hold one's tongue hush one's mouth hush-hush keep it down quiet down say nothing shut up sit on strike dumb
Antonyms
STRONG
agitate allow disturb encourage help irritate let go release start
VERB
shut up
Synonyms
WEAK
bottle up choke dry up dummy up fall silent gag hold tongue hush keep trap shut muzzle quiet quieten quit chattering shush silence soft pedal still stop talking
Antonyms
WEAK
speak talk
VERB
silence
Synonyms
STRONGEST
cut off gag muffle mute muzzle quash quell squelch stifle subdue suppress
STRONG
clam dampen deaden dull extinguish hush lull overawe quiet quieten shush soft pedal still tongue-tie
WEAK
choke off clam up close up cool it cut short decrease the volume dry up dumb dummy up hold one's tongue hush one's mouth hush-hush keep it down quiet down say nothing shut up sit on strike dumb
Antonyms
STRONGEST
allow encourage help let go permit release start
WEAK
be noisy communicate talk

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Another microbiologist and senior doctor, Christine Peters, said she was advised by a senior colleague to "pipe down" or she would find things "hard" professionally.

From BBC • Jan. 24, 2026

Like Indy, kids get dragged around to places they don’t want to go to for reasons that aren’t explained, and when they whine, they’re commanded to pipe down.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 1, 2025

Politico's Rachel Bade caught a rare break in McCarthy's otherwise stony facade when he "visibly shushed his members to pipe down."

From Salon • Feb. 8, 2023

So when he heard that Rizzo had told his teammates to pipe down, Kintzler worried a misconception had ended his Nationals tenure.

From Washington Post • Aug. 20, 2018

Sometimes I have to slip off my thongs to throw at them before they’ll pipe down.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver