shushing
Requesting someone's silence
Shushing is making or directing the "shh" sound to quiet someone or something.
A librarian shushing patrons, a parent shushing a fussy baby.
The word captures both the sound itself and the gesture of silencing: She kept shushing him during the movie.
To be shushed is to be told to be quiet.
Soothing song for babies
- calmingInducing a settled state
- gentleSoft and kind
- tenderSoft or sore
- comfortingGiving emotional ease
pacifying · settling · cooing · reassuring · cradling · rocking · bedtime · nursery
Speech without full voice
- muteWithout voice or sound
- softYielding to touch
- gentleSoft and kind
- murmurSoft, indistinct continuous sound
subdued · low · faint · soundless · noiseless · inaudible · stillness · quietude
Making disapproving sounds
- tskClicking rebuke sound
- scoldingHarsh verbal criticism
- reprimandFormal expression of disapproval
- sternStrict or ship's aft
glare · frown · rebuke · chide · judgmental · librarian · admonishing · reproach
Collection manager at reading hall
- reading roomQuiet space for books
- study hallSupervised schoolwork time
- archivesStored historical documents
- stacksVertical arrangements of items
patrons · quiet zone · index finger · stern look · disturbance · etiquette · sign · rules
Clandestine coordinated scheming
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- covertIntentionally concealed
- furtiveSecretive and sly
- surreptitiousDone secretly, avoiding detection
stealthy · cloak-and-dagger · undercover · discreet · veiled · confidential · classified · concealment
lullaby
Soothing song for babies
comforting · pacifying · settling · cooing · reassuring · cradling · rocking · bedtime · nursery · maternal
whisper
Speech without full voice
murmur · subdued · low · faint · soundless · noiseless · inaudible · stillness · quietude · muffling
tut-tutting
Making disapproving sounds
stern · glare · frown · rebuke · chide · judgmental · librarian · admonishing · reproach · warning
librarian
Collection manager at reading hall
- reading roomQuiet space for books
- study hallSupervised schoolwork time
- archivesStored historical documents
stacks · patrons · quiet zone · index finger · stern look · disturbance · etiquette · sign · rules · respectful
conspiracy
Clandestine coordinated scheming
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- covertIntentionally concealed
- furtiveSecretive and sly
surreptitious · stealthy · cloak-and-dagger · undercover · discreet · veiled · confidential · classified · concealment · private
suppression
Forcible prevention or concealment
- censorshipOfficial content restriction
- gagMouth restraint or jest
- stifleSuppress or restrain
quash · repression · ban · restrict · control · redact · forbidden · taboo · muzzle · squelch
- silencingmuting, hushing, muffling, gagging, muzzling
- ambient soundsrain, wind, ocean, thunder rumble, crickets
- audience reactionsapplause, clapping, booing, cheering, laughter
- gesturesgesture, hand gestures, applause, hand raise, tap on shoulder
- Library Tropeslibrarian, book stacks, reading room, card catalog, archives
- movie theater etiquettesilence, whispering, cell phones, texting, talking
shushingencouraging
Giving confidence or hope
prompting · egging on · cheering · drawing out · eliciting
shushingamplifying
Increasing strength or intensity
turning up · cheering · blasting · cranking up · shouting
shushingempowering
Giving authority or confidence
liberating · emboldening · affirming · validating · platforming