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
Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2025
His passion for the history and pageantry has already earned him roles in the gunfight shows, first as silent characters—a bartender, a gunshot victim—and then as Billy the Kid at the Oriental Saloon Theater.
—Richard Grant, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Mar. 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
There also will be entertainment as well as silent and live auctions.
—Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2025
His passion for the history and pageantry has already earned him roles in the gunfight shows, first as silent characters—a bartender, a gunshot victim—and then as Billy the Kid at the Oriental Saloon Theater.
—Richard Grant, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Mar. 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
-
Where do the natural wonders of America’s wildlife in its mute creatures—the tortoises, birds, bumblebees, flowers, fish and forests—fit in the fiscal tug-of-war amid current political winners and losers?—
Noël Fletcher,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
-
The man stared at the Ukrainian soldiers for a moment, attentive to the mouths of those mute men talking over each other.—
Samanta Schweblin,
The New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
At the start of episode 8, Cara, a reserved 29-year-old In-N-Out worker, had the cash in her box, while her bestie Samantha, a 41-year-old cop pretending to be a stay-at-home mom, had a clue that the secret millionaire was someone with two sisters.—
Jillian Sederholm,
EW.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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Without trust, teams experience: • Communication Breakdowns: Team members become reserved and hesitant to provide feedback or voice concerns.—
Dr. Jennifer Bryant,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 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
-
On the final whistle, there was deep quiet inside the Metropolitano.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
4 Apr. 2025
-
The Pentagon has not held a press briefing in weeks, and the Defense Department has been quiet about the ongoing strikes.—
Rachel Wolf,
FOXNews.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
This means there are no story connections between any of the shorts, beyond the general overlapping of genre and theme.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Brooks & Dunn fans were left wanting more Thursday when the band unexpectedly cut their encore short.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The 94 rooms and suites have been reimagined with muted colors inspired by the soft hues of the property’s garden and the building’s historic architecture.—
Laura Itzkowitz,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Apr. 2025
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The Pacific Ocean subtly makes its way into the decor of the 167 guest rooms and suites, where rugs and table lamps in muted greens and turquoise evoke kelp forests, and fluffy robes feature green seashell prints.—
Jennifer Flowers,
AFAR Media,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Clean lines, streamlined silhouettes, and restrained details result in impactful simplicity, which is exactly what a minimalist bride aspires for.—
Sarah Zendejas,
Vogue,
6 Apr. 2025
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Frank and vulnerable, her restrained vocal performance is the perfect pairing for Sundae Beats’ lush, ethereal soundscape.—
Christopher Claxton,
Billboard,
31 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Silent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/silent. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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