silence
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silence¹
- /ˈsaɪlən(t)s/
- [ˈsaɪ̯ləns] ~ [ˈsaɪ̯ln̩s]
Rhymes with -aɪləns
Where it comes from
From Middle English silence, from Old French silence, from Latin silentium (“silence”), from silēns (“quiet, silent”, present participle of silēre) + -ium. Displaced native Old English swīġe and sālnes.
noun silences
- The absence of any sound. When the motor stopped, the silence was almost deafening.
- The act of refraining from speaking. "You have the right to silence," said the police officer.
- Refraining from speaking, for purposes of prayer or meditation; especially, a form of worship practiced by the Society of Friends (Quakers) during meetings. During silence a message came to me that there was that of God in every person.
Similar: inaudibility, quietness, black noise, crickets, hush, noiselessness, quiet, roo, silence, stillness, soundlessness, whistness · Opposite: audibility, loudness, vocality, sound, speech, talk
verb silences · silencing · silenced
-
To make (someone or something) silent.
Can you silence the crowd, so we can start the show?
Similar: mute
- To repress the expression of something. Women, as well as children, have their thoughts or emotions routinely silenced.
- To suppress criticism, etc. Silence the critics.
- To block gene expression.
- To murder. They, and others through the years, believed Ruby must have acted on his own since there was no logic to the supposition that anyone could trust an uncontrollable, unreliable loudmouth like Ruby to silence Oswald.
Silence²
Where it comes from
From silence.
proper noun
- A female given name from English.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: quiet, still, quieten, hush, hush up, muteness, secrecy, secretiveness, shut up, burke, silent, stillness, quietness, silently, quieter, quietly
noun
Similar: inaudibility, quietness, black noise, crickets, hush, noiselessness, quiet, roo, silence, stillness, soundlessness, whistness · Opposite: audibility, loudness, vocality, sound, speech, talk
Translations
Every language
noun refraining from speaking
| Español | sho |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | Schweigen |
| Ελληνικά | σιωπή siopí |
| Русский | молча́ние molčánije |
noun lack of sound
| Español | silencio |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 침묵 chimmuk |
| 日本語 | 静けさ shizukesa, 静寂 seijaku, 黙秘 mokuhi, 沈黙 chinmoku |
| 中文 | 沉默 chénmò |
| हिन्दी | शांति śānti, सन्नाटा sannāṭā, ख़ामोशी xāmośī, चुप्पी cuppī, मौनता mauntā |
| Kiswahili | kimya |
| Português | silêncio |
| Français | silence |
| Deutsch | Stille, Schweigen |
| Italiano | silenzio |
| Ελληνικά | σιωπή siopí, σιγή sigí, ησυχία isychía |
| Română | liniște, tăcere |
| Русский | тишина́ tišiná |
| Tiếng Việt | sự yên lặng |
| العربية | صَمْت ṣamt, سُكُوت sukūt |
| עברית | שקט shéket, דממה dmamá |
verb to make something silent
| Español | silenciar |
|---|---|
| हिन्दी | शांत करना śānt karnā |
| Kiswahili | nyamazisha |
| Português | silenciar |
| Deutsch | zum Schweigen bringen |
| Italiano | silenziare, azzittire |
| Ελληνικά | ησυχάζω isycházo |
| Русский | заглуша́ть zaglušátʹ, заглуши́ть zaglušítʹ, заста́вить замолча́ть zastávitʹ zamolčátʹ |
| العربية | صَمَّتَ ṣammata |
| עברית | השתיק hishtík |
verb to suppress criticism
| Español | hacer callar |
|---|---|
| Português | silenciar |
| Deutsch | zum Schweigen bringen |
| Italiano | silenziare, mettere a tacere |
| Русский | затыка́ть рот zatykátʹ rot, заткну́ть рот zatknútʹ rot |
Talk about this word "silence." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/silence. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. silence. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/silence "silence." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/silence.Cite this
@misc{silence_2026,
title = {silence},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/silence},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
