1
as in speechless
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
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of silent
Frédéric Dimanche, Fortune, 13 Feb. 2026
Diggs was mostly silent during the Super Bowl with just three catches for 37 yards.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 5 Nov. 2024
Chaplin’s run of silents continued into the talkie era.
—Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023
See All Example Sentences for silent
Adjective
And this causes concern for tourism professionals, although most have remained silent about the recent immigration crackdown.
—Frédéric Dimanche, Fortune, 13 Feb. 2026
Diggs was mostly silent during the Super Bowl with just three catches for 37 yards.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
Boles started his Hollywood career in the silents, but became a big star in the talkies.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American-Statesman, 5 Nov. 2024
Chaplin’s run of silents continued into the talkie era.
—Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023
See All Example Sentences for silent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for silent
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
-
Máxima and the recovery of an icon With the arrival of Queen Máxima to the throne, the sapphire tiara regained a prominence that seemed reserved for other eras.—
Marta Martínez Tato,
Vanity Fair,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Low-key and reserved on and off the course, the 23-year-old rarely betrays emotion.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
For me, these wordless noises were clearly about sadness and longing.—
Shayla Love,
New Yorker,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The recent album by the 82-year-old piano giant focuses on compositions Barron originally conceived as instrumental pieces, either set with lyrics or delivered with wordless vocal lines.—
Andrew Gilbert,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Hours after Pretti was shot dead while restrained and kneeling, Leon Virden and one of his sons joined a protest near the scene.—
Natasha Korecki,
NBC news,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Beatrix, first as crown princess and later as queen, continued to use the tiara, although with a more restrained use, often combining it with other pieces of the ensemble or reserving it for very specific diplomatic appointments.—
Marta Martínez Tato,
Vanity Fair,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Frontcourt production would rely on the Brazile-Richmond-Pringle trio again, should Ewin have a second quiet performance in a row.—
Matt Byrne,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Meghan Markle forwent her usual quiet luxury style for Old Hollywood glamour in a custom Harbison Studio dress at the annual Fifteen Percent Pledge Fundraising Gala Honoring Tina Knowles on Saturday night in Los Angeles.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Bian’s big short comes with significant risk, and he has been forced to liquidate some positions at a loss in a volatile silver market.—
Alfred Cang,
Fortune,
5 Feb. 2026
-
There’s no way of knowing this frigid February how all these players and coaches will work out, but to get this much done in this short a time certainly shows high-level energy, high-level organization, unfathomable relentlessness.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Complicating matters is the fact that Maddie is deaf and mute, forcing her to utilize her other senses to stop the killer from claiming her as his next victim.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Jan. 2026
-
For this new work, Andrews has forged Sophocles’ Electra with Ingmar Bergman’s 1966 gripping classic, Persona, a film that starred Liv Ullmann and Bibi Andersson playing, respectively, a famous theatre actress, inexplicably struck mute, who is cared for by a young nurse.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Duncan Simmons is a very taciturn, contemplative 16-year-old who's been through a lot.—
Ross Guidotti,
CBS News,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The Eagles do not publicly reveal their interviews, preferring a taciturn operation.—
Zach Berman,
New York Times,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Silent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/silent. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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