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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.

Crowd commotion hits a heavy metal high and drops steeply to silence.

From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026

I let the question hang in the air, not filling the silence.

From Salon • Apr. 19, 2026

The judge’s demand that the items be returned were met with silence.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 19, 2026

There will be a moment of silence and a tribute video before Friday’s game.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

Rest is out of the question, but I sit in silence, my heart leaping with equal amounts of hope and terror at what lies ahead of us in the morning.

From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler

Vocabulary lists containing silence

myPerspectives 7.2

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Purple Hibiscus

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"Nadia the Willful"

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