Antonyms for silent

Grammar : Adj

Spell : sahy-luhnt

Phonetic Transcription : ˈsaɪ lənt

Definition of silent

Origin : c.1500, "without speech, silent, not speaking," from Latin silentem (nominative silens) "still, calm, quiet," present participle of silere "be quiet or still" (see silence (n.)). Meaning "free from noise or sound" is from 1580s.
Of letters, c.1600; of films, 1914. In the looser sense "of few words," from 1840. Phrase strong, silent (type) is attested from 1905. Silent majority in the political sense of "mass of people whose moderate views are not publicly expressed and thus overlooked" is first attested 1955 in a British context and was used by John F. Kennedy but is most associated in U.S. with the rhetoric of the Nixon administration (1969-74).
It is time for America's silent majority to stand up for its rights, and let us remember the American majority includes every minority. America's silent majority is bewildered by irrational protest. [Spiro T. Agnew, May 9, 1969]
In Victorian use, the phrase meant "the dead" (1874; cf. Roman use of the noun plural of "silent" to mean "the dead"). Silence is golden (1831) is Carlyle's translation ["Sartor Resartus"] of part of the "Swiss Inscription" Sprechen ist silbern, Schweigen ist golden.

adj quiet; speechless
adj understood, implied

Example sentences :

He is silent and abstracted, like one just returned from the cave of Trophonius.
Extract from : « Philothea » by Lydia Maria Child

"I told him high altitudes and high livin' would do any man—" Again he was silent.
Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson

Some of these bright beings are speaking, and others are silent.
Extract from : « Philothea » by Lydia Maria Child

In this holy atmosphere we paused for a moment in silent reverence.
Extract from : « Philothea » by Lydia Maria Child

She was silent and motionless for another five minutes, thinking intently.
Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson

"I wish it would," she said, gently, and then went on with her own thoughts while he was silent.
Extract from : « Malbone » by Thomas Wentworth Higginson

Descending this, he went forth with her into the dark and silent night.
Extract from : « Malbone » by Thomas Wentworth Higginson

But every eye was upon me, and the Church was silent as death, waiting for my rising.
Extract from : « Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. 327 » by Various

But the men drank it in—all except Henry, silent in his corner.
Extract from : « Way of the Lawless » by Max Brand

There is a moral, and a religion too, even in the silent walls.
Extract from : « Sunday at Home (From "Twice Told Tales") » by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Synonyms for silent

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019