shut up

1
2
as in to shush
to stop the noise or speech of nothing I said would shut them up

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 shut up In contrast to contemporaries like Ben Jonson—who told his audiences, basically, Sit down, shut up, and enjoy the glory of my words—Shakespeare repeatedly went out of his way to ask audiences to be active participants in the creation of his plays. Jeffrey R. Wilson, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Jan. 2025 Those rewards are less about shutting up and playing the hits than understanding that the relationship to the audience is slightly different. Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 23 Jan. 2025 Honestly, my plan coming in was to shut up, stay under the radar. Liza Esquibias, People.com, 15 Jan. 2025 In other words, Anti-SLAPP laws prevent bad people from misusing the courts to shut up others who have done nothing more than lawfully express themselves. Jay Adkisson, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shut up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shut up
Verb
  • If that income stream dries up, whether due to job loss, market shifts, or economic downturns, you’re left scrambling.
    Melissa Houston, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Relatedly, support for elections—a key hallmark of democratic processes—has dried up as well, shrinking by eight percentage points across 30 nations during the same time period.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Duke did things to Illinois on Saturday at Madison Square Garden, in a 110-67 eyeful that wasn’t as close as the final score, to shush talk of a weak ACC potentially costing Cooper and the fighting Flaggs a No. 1 seed.
    Joe Rexrode, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
  • Visiting Villa manager Unai Emery had earlier been left angered by the decision to send off Jhon Duran with Tindall later seen shushing the Spaniard in the technical area.
    Callum Davis, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • In that meeting, Trump and Macron embraced and shook hands for about 17 seconds and once again engaged in a handshake and hushed whispers that sparked public conversation.
    Matt Robison, Newsweek, 24 Feb. 2025
  • While brands cite rising ingredient costs, sustainability efforts, and product shelf-life concerns, these explanations may not be enough to hush growing skepticism.
    Tiana Randall, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Our social media volunteers, supporters in the diaspora, and activists have had their families harassed and abducted, all in an effort to silence dissent.
    Imran Khan, TIME, 28 Feb. 2025
  • The battle for copyright in the AI age is far from over, but one thing is clear: musicians, writers, and artists are ready to fight back, and they will not be silenced. Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn.
    Virginie Berger, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Although regulations may usher in more urgency for sustainable action, the laws rolling out around transparent claims could lead to companies clamming up about their initiatives to avoid potential greenwashing penalties.
    Sarah Jones, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019
  • While Lydia wallows in the residual pain, Paul has clammed up.
    Judy Berman, TIME, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Tech needed its captain to quiet the growing optimism and momentum the Wildcats were gaining.
    Devin Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Once the embers have quieted and the smoke has blown to the ocean, local risk management plans will be subject to a comprehensive review.
    Harvey Levine, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • While the event generated significant online discussion and participation from some consumer groups, the data suggests its impact on major corporations was muted.
    Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025
  • The lawsuit says San Diego Central Jail staff have routinely violated the facility’s policies by ignoring or muting intercom calls.
    Julia Marnin, Sacramento Bee, 25 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • In the 1970s, his family immigrated to the U.S., settling first in Massachusetts and then in California, outside of Los Angeles.
    Alice Park, TIME, 5 Mar. 2025
  • Slotkin’s spoke from Wyandotte, Michigan, a working-class community south of Detroit, as Democrats struggle to settle on a unified message to combat Trump, which was on full display Tuesday night as Trump delivered the longest address to Congress by a president in U.S. history.
    Joey Cappelletti, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Shut up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shut%20up. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.

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