Silent Definition & Meaning

silent
adjective
  1. marked by absence of sound; "a silent house"; "soundless footsteps on the grass"; "the night was still"
  2. failing to speak or communicate etc when expected to; "the witness remained silent"
  3. implied by or inferred from actions or statements; "gave silent consent"; "a tacit agreement"; "the understood provisos of a custody agreement"
  4. not made to sound; "the silent `h' at the beginning of `honor'"; "in French certain letters are often unsounded"
  5. having a frequency below or above the range of human audibility; "a silent dog whistle"
  6. unable to speak because of hereditary deafness

Synonyms for silent

dumb adj

slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity; "so dense he never understands anything I say to him

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implicit adj

implied though not directly expressed; inherent in the nature of something

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implied
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inarticulate adj

without or deprived of the use of speech or words; "inarticulate beasts

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inaudible adj

impossible to hear; imperceptible by the ear; "an inaudible conversation"

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
incommunicative adj

not inclined to talk or give information or express opinions

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inexplicit adj

implied though not directly expressed; inherent in the nature of something

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mum adj

failing to speak or communicate etc when expected to

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mute adj

expressed without speech; "a mute appeal"; "a silent curse"; "best grief is tongueless"- Emily Dickinson

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quiet adv

with little or no activity or no agitation (`quiet' is a nonstandard variant for `quietly')

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"Silent" in song lyrics

See how silent is used in real songs:

  • "But when it comes to speaking the real, I won't be silent"
    Above the Law f/ Dr. Dre — Living Like Hustlers
  • "Villain with a theme dream silent"
    Aesop Rock — No Splash
  • "But my family was proud so we kept it silent"
    — Here and Now

Words that rhyme with silent

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Usage tips for "silent"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "silent" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for silent to find words that pair well.

Use "silent" in a verse

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♫ Rhymes with silent ↔ Synonyms for silent 🔬 Words containing silent

Frequently asked questions

What does silent mean?
marked by absence of sound; "a silent house"; "soundless footsteps on the grass"; "the night was still" failing to speak or communicate etc when expected to; "the witness remained silent" implied by or inferred from actions or statements; "gave silent consent"; "a tacit agreement"; "the understood provisos of a custody agreement" not made to sound; "the silent `h' at the beginning of `honor
What part of speech is silent?
Silent is an adjective.
How many definitions does silent have?
Silent has 6 definitions across 1 part of speech (adjective).

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