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

Thus, the state “seeks to silence a viewpoint she wishes to express.”

From Slate • Mar. 31, 2026

"And they all turned out but the film finished and there was just silence and nobody spoke."

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

The Afterlife’s deafening silence was filled by the creak and sigh of the woods.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

silence

Example Sentences

Related Words