silent
11 synonyms and 4 antonyms for silent, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Making no sound at all; completely quiet.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use silent
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Latin silens, "being quiet," the present participle of silere, "to be silent."
Full origin of silent →Frequently asked questions
What does “silent” mean?
The word “silent” means making no sound at all; completely quiet. In plain terms, making no noise, or choosing not to speak.
How do you pronounce “silent”?
“Silent” is pronounced SEYE-luhnt (/ˈsaɪ̯lənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “silent” in a sentence?
Here is “silent” used in a sentence: “The library fell silent as soon as the exam began.”
What is another word for “silent”?
Words with a similar meaning to “silent” include taciturn, mute, still, invisible, occluded and silential.
What is the opposite of “silent”?
The opposite of “silent” — its antonyms — are loud, noisy, unsilent and nonsilent.
What part of speech is “silent”?
Depending on how it is used, “silent” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “silent” come from?
The word “silent” comes from Latin. From Latin silens, "being quiet," the present participle of silere, "to be silent.".
Is “silent” a common word?
“Silent” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between silent and quiet?
Silent means completely free of sound, an absolute state with nothing to hear. Quiet is relative and means low in sound rather than none at all; a quiet room may still have soft background noise. So everything silent is quiet, but not everything quiet is truly silent.
What is the difference between silent and mute?
Silent describes anything making no sound at a given moment. Mute more often describes an inability or refusal to speak, or a device setting that turns sound off. A person can choose to be silent, whereas 'mute' suggests the capacity for sound is switched off or absent.
What is a silent letter?
A silent letter is a letter written in a word but not pronounced, fitting the sense of making no sound. Common English examples include the 'k' in 'knee,' the 'b' in 'thumb,' and the 'gh' in 'night.' They often survive from older spellings or foreign origins.
What is the opposite of silent?
The most direct opposites are 'loud' and 'noisy,' describing something full of sound. Depending on context, 'audible' also contrasts with silent, since it means able to be heard. A silent engine makes no sound at all, while a noisy one is impossible to ignore.