1
as in mute
deliberately refraining from speech
the suddenly silent child had to be prompted to say hello
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in reserved
tending not to speak frequently (as by habit or inclination)
a naturally silent boy, he was often overshadowed by his louder siblings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in quieted
mostly or entirely without sound
the room was so silent that you could have heard the proverbial pin drop
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in talkie
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of silent
Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 18 May 2025
In fact, the gang went silent and negotiations broke down.
—Shirsho Dasgupta, Miami Herald, 16 May 2025
Vulture, 24 Jan. 2023
So the various greenhouses and whatnots were familiar to Martha-content enthusiasts as the vans quickly took us past the beautiful part of her property toward the far less handsome back end, where a near-silent feeding frenzy was underway.
—Curbed, 25 Apr. 2022
See All Example Sentences for silent
Adjective
But Linklater introduces each player with his or her name neatly emblazoned at the bottom of the screen, similar to the way characters (and often the actors playing them) used to be identified in silent movies, so audiences could get their bearings quickly.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 18 May 2025
In fact, the gang went silent and negotiations broke down.
—Shirsho Dasgupta, Miami Herald, 16 May 2025
Noun
The Meahers, who own much of the land around Africatown, remain conspicuously off-screen and silent.
—Vulture, 24 Jan. 2023
So the various greenhouses and whatnots were familiar to Martha-content enthusiasts as the vans quickly took us past the beautiful part of her property toward the far less handsome back end, where a near-silent feeding frenzy was underway.
—Curbed, 25 Apr. 2022
See All Example Sentences for silent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for silent
Adjective
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Laura, who lost her daughter Cathy months prior, is already looking after a young foster child named Ollie (Jonah Wren Phillips), a strange, selectively mute boy who has an insatiable appetite and a blood feud with the family cat.—
Madison Bloom,
Pitchfork,
16 May 2025
-
Roku’s advancements in remote technology over the last 15 years are visually subtle, and include a volume rocker and mute button on the right edge and a pinhole microphone near the top for voice control.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
6 May 2025
Adjective
-
Sprinkle tops evenly with reserved sugar-flour mixture (about 1 1/2 teaspoons each).—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
28 May 2025
-
My ticket was for travel with up to six others in a reserved couchette cabin.—
Carlton Reid,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
Adjective
-
In helicopter video taken by Air Maui Helicopter Tours in Lahaina and posted online the people aboard are largely speechless.—
Phil Helsel,
NBC News,
10 Aug. 2023
-
Because his work, as is often the case, leaves us almost speechless.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Jan. 2023
Adjective
-
Ratajkowski has been fighting the stereotype of the dumb model from the beginning of her career.—
Daniel Jackson,
Allure,
18 July 2017
-
Ninety nine percent of all NFL players are explicitly not dumb.—
Andy Benoit,
The MMQB,
10 July 2017
Adjective
-
Until this point, Gilgeous-Alexander has displayed a quiet form of leadership during his NBA career.—
Mark LaSota,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
-
Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Illinois Set in the quiet prairie lands south of Chicago, this cemetery is one of the largest in the Midwest.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
Mendonça crams the film with vivid time-capsule details: vintage American cars and vinyl records, token-hungry phone booths and old-school printing presses, obscenely tight shorts and sweltering heat.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
18 May 2025
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Style it with shorts and sandals during the day, or wear it with straight-leg jeans and kitten heels for a night out.—
Emily Weaver,
People.com,
18 May 2025
Adjective
-
There was something hauntingly beautiful about them—soft, muted, delicate.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 May 2025
-
The layered but muted colors express the fog of dizziness that can transform a modest family living room into a dreamlike space.—
Elly Fishman,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
Adjective
-
An all-out self-deprecating ad could be warranted if the goal is to simply raise brand awareness, while a more restrained approach might be needed to avoid distraction if an ad includes technical details about a new product.—
Anton Naianzin,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2025
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Plus, How to Use It In Your Home For pattern, using a rug with an oversized, neutral pattern keeps within a restrained palette but still creates visual interest.—
Eleni N. Gage,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Silent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/silent. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.
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