Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
silence (noun)1.
forbearance from speech or noise - muteness often used interjectionally
2.
absence of sound or noise - stillness in the silence of the night
3.
absence of mention
a) - oblivion obscurity
b) - secrecy weapons research was conducted in silence
transitive verb
1.
to compel or reduce to silence - still silenced the crowd
2.
- suppress silence dissent
3.
to cause to cease hostile firing or criticism - silence the opposition
Merriam-Webster Online Thesaurus
silence (noun)1.
incapacity for or restraint from speaking
SYNONIMS:
dumbness, muteness, speechlessness, stillnessRELATED WORDS:
inarticulacy, inarticulateness, voicelessness; reserve, reticence, reticency, taciturnityNEAR ANTONYMS:
communication, speaking, talking; eloquence, fluency, volubility; chattiness, garrulousness, loquaciousness, loquacity, talkativeness, talkiness; verboseness, verbosity, windiness, wordiness2.
the near or complete absence of sound
SYNONIMS:
hush, quiet, quietness, quietude, still, stillnessRELATED WORDS:
calm, lull, peace, peacefulness, tranquillity ( tranquility)NEAR ANTONYMS:
babel, blare, bluster, cacophony, chatter, clamor, clangor, din, hubbub, racket, rattle, roar, tumult, uproar3.
the quality or state of being mostly or completely unknown
SYNONIMS:
anonymity, facelessness, namelessness, nowhere, nowheresville, silenceRELATED WORDS:
oblivion; inconspicuousness, invisibility, invisibleness; insignificance; unpopularityNEAR ANTONYMS:
character, mark, name, note, rep [], report, reputation, repute; favor, popularity; importance, significance; distinction, eminence, glory, greatness, honor, illustriousness, note, preeminence, prominence; megastardom, superstardom; cachet, kudos, position, prestige, rank, standing, stature; acclaim, acknowledgment ( acknowledgement), praise, recognition; adoration, idolization1.
to stop the noise or speech of
SYNONIMS:
dumb, extinguish, hush, mute, quell, quiet, quieten, settle, shush, shut up, squelch, stillNEAR ANTONYMS:
agitate, stir2.
to put a stop to (something) by the use of force
SYNONIMS:
clamp down (on), crack down (on), crush, put down, quash, repress, silence, slap down, snuff (out), squash, squelch, subdue, suppressRELATED WORDS:
douse ( dowse), extinguish, put out, quench; smother, stifle, strangle, throttle; annihilate, decimate, demolish, desolate, destroy, devastate, nuke, rub out, ruin, smash, waste, wreck; exterminate, obliterate, wipe out; conquer, dominate, overcome, overpower, overwhelm, subdue, subjugate, vanquishNEAR ANTONYMS:
abet, aid, assist, back, help, prop up, support; foment, incite, instigate, provoke, stir, whip (up); advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, foster, further, nourish, nurture, promote