silence

noun

the trait of keeping things secret

a refusal to speak when expected

the absence of sound

the state of being silent (as when no one is speaking)

verb

keep from expression, for example by threats or pressure

cause to be quiet or not talk

Roots

sileosil- · Latin · be silent

Synonyms for silence

hushn quietadj obmutescencen mutenessn noiselessnessn quietenv soundlessnessn stillnessn quietnessn uncommunicativenessn taciturnityn speechlessnessn quietuden secretivenessn quietusn

Synonyms & related words for silence

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of silence — including hush, quiet, obmutescence, muteness, noiselessness, quieten. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to silence

Explore words related to silence — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include hushful, silentness, obmutescent, silent, hushy, conticent, silentiary, ultraquiet. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for silence

Common synonyms for silence include hush, quiet, obmutescence, muteness, noiselessness, quieten, soundlessness, stillness — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does silence come from?

The word silence breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root sil-, from Latin sileo (“be silent”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.