Synonyms for silence
- noun
- verb
Most common
Synonyms by meaning
Noun
1. Secrecy
2. Quiet
quiet, hush, stillness, quietness, calm, rest, tranquility US, tranquillity UK, lull, quiescence, peace dated, noiselessness rare, soundlessness rare, inaudibility rare
Other
muteness, dumbness dated, restfulness rare, taciturnity rare
Verb
1. Stifle
shut-up, still, stifle, quieten UK IE, muffle, hush up informal, suppress, squelch, quell, gag, muzzle
Other
Definitions
- n. 1
The absence of any sound.
There was a dead silence for a few seconds.
- n. 2
The act of refraining from speaking.
"You have the right to silence," said the police officer.
- v. 1
To make (someone or something) silent.
Can you silence the crowd, so we can start the show?
Related words
Example sentences
- hush Many politicians are believed to accept hush money.
- stillness I find peace in the stillness of the morning light.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| silence | rising | |
| hush | rising | |
| stillness | rising | |
| muteness | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- gag1
- 4 letters
- rest1, calm1, mute1, hush1, lull1
- 5 letters
- still1, peace1, quiet2, quell1
- 6 letters
- muzzle2, stifle2, muffle2
- 7 letters
- secrecy3, squelch1, quieten
- 8 letters
- suppress2, dumbness, muteness
- 9 letters
- stillness2, quietness3
- 10 letters
- quiescence
- 11 letters
- tranquility4, restfulness, taciturnity
- 12 letters
- tranquillity4, inaudibility
- 13 letters
- secretiveness4, noiselessness, soundlessness
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (quiet2 = 2 syllables).