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Showing results for silence.
Definitions

silence

[sahy-luhns] / ˈsaɪ ləns /
NOUN
absence of sound, speech
Synonyms
STRONGEST
blackout calm lull peace quiet reticence secrecy stillness
STRONG
censorship death dumbness hush laconism muteness noiselessness quiescence quietness quietude reserve sleep speechlessness still sulk sullenness taciturnity uncommunicativeness
WEAK
dead air hush-hush inarticulateness iron curtain saturninity
Antonyms
STRONGEST
agitation
WEAK
clamor communication noise talk
VERB
make or be quiet
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 pipe 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.

Even so, drawing in local figures has helped to break the "spiral of silence" some Fidesz-dominated rural communities, where opposition supporters previously felt isolated or reluctant to express their views, Zsiga added.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

Some have reported being hung up on when a 988 counselor misinterpreted their silence to mean they’d walked away.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

I think about the discipline required to bring a body back from silence.

From Slate • Mar. 29, 2026

"Your heart is blown to pieces but do you still need to eat dinner and go to work so I'm not stylistically chasing silence, just representing the truth of it."

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

In silence he collected the few tools he had brought with him and in silence left the shop.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.