silenced 1 of 2

adjective

as in suppressed

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silenced

2 of 2

verb

past tense of silence
1
as in shushed
to stop the noise or speech of the instructor quickly silenced anyone who tried to interrupt we need to have a repairman come and silence that door alarm

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in quelled
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force brutally silenced all political dissent in the country

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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 silenced
Adjective
When monitoring wanes and enforcement fades, workers pay the price first in wages and safety, then in silenced voices and must choose between an empty stomach and their rights. — Tharo Khun, Sourcing Journal, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
Howard County's policy requires all cell phones and other personal tech devices to be out of sight and silenced during the school day. — Kellye Lynn, CBS News, 23 Aug. 2026 Any talk of loaning the former Leicester City youngster out has been long since silenced by the speed of his development. — James Pearce, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026 As Yerman called for help from the grunts and worked on getting medical evacuation helicopters inbound, Capers ordered Crepeau to call in mortars dangerously close to the Marines’ position—a risky gamble that silenced the enemy guns. — Ethan Rocke, Charlotte Observer, 20 Aug. 2026 In these difficult and incendiary times, perspectives such as Poe’s are often silenced and forced to remain in the shadows. — Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026 Pure catharsis that exiles can dedicate in the name of those silenced on the island. — Sarah Moreno august 7, Miami Herald, 7 Aug. 2026 Morgan silenced the critics and played into her heel persona—one that wants to hold the title for 1,000 days—with a strong victory over Iyo Sky. — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026 When the team silenced these neurons, the flies got lost entirely, wandering upwind with no idea how to get back. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 1 Aug. 2026 The two newspapers were briefly silenced by the White House, which persuaded the courts to order them to cease releasing the documents, and then were vindicated when the Supreme Court barred the government from restraining publication. — Heather Hendershot, The Conversation, 31 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for silenced
  1. suppressed
  2. shushed
  3. quelled
  4. stifled
  5. quieted
  6. subdued
  7. repressed
  8. muted
Adjective
  • General Manager Ken Holland hinted at potentially being done after trading center Phillip Danault for a draft pick in December and acquiring Panarin at a suppressed price in February, though he has been known to under-promise often and, sometimes, over-deliver.
    — Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 3 Mar. 2026
  • Supervising sound editor Alastair Sirkett told IndieWire that Peter Claffey’s big, former-rugby-player frame really helps that moment sing with suppressed panic.
    — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 18 Feb. 2026
Definition of suppressed
Verb
  • As the moment unfolded, Savannah shushed the future king and even briefly placed her hand over his mouth in an effort to keep him composed.
    — Staff Author, InStyle, 13 June 2026
  • The Giants offense got shushed Wednesday night by Shohei Ohtani, and their hitters went down almost as quietly against right-hander Emmet Sheehan.
    — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 15 May 2026
Definition of shushed
Verb
  • Bradman was the top run scorer for Australia but had only one century in the series, suggesting his threat had been quelled.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Coach Regis Le Bris appears to have quelled that for this summer, citing a lack of other striking options beyond Brian Brobbey in a season where his side have European football to contend with on top of domestic matters.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of quelled
Adjective
  • Literature, in his view, was a susurrus of stifled screams, a missive from the netherworld of the collective imaginary.
    — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
Definition of stifled
Verb
  • Even if the political discussion on climate change has quieted, the planet has not.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
  • That surge has quieted now, as is to be expected whenever a superstar of Grande’s caliber returns.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of quieted
Verb
  • Hughes allegedly questioned the arrest and resisted officers before deputies subdued him.
    — Bradford Betz, FOXNews.com, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Once he was caught, Clark said Hughes tried to get out of his handcuffs and had to be subdued.
    — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of subdued
Adjective
  • The 1996 drama saw Watson play Bess McNeill, a young woman living in a repressed, deeply religious community in the north of Scotland.
    — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Sigmund Freud wrote that dreams were a kind of acting-out of repressed impulses.
    — Veronique Greenwood, Time, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of repressed
Verb
  • Meta agreed to impose changes including a default two-hour daily time limit for teens across Facebook and Instagram, muted notifications during school hours, and enhanced parental controls, with more updates potentially on the horizon.
    — Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026
  • You may like Notifications will be muted between midnight and 6am and between 8am and 3pm on school days.
    — Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of muted

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silenced
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Cite this Entry

“Silenced.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/silenced. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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