silenced
Forced into stillness
Silenced describes something that has been made quiet or prevented from speaking.
A silenced gun has a suppressor attached to muffle its report.
A silenced critic has been shut up, whether through persuasion, intimidation, or force.
The word often carries sinister overtones—those who are silenced rarely chose silence themselves.
Forcibly held down
- repressedHeld back from expression
- subjugatedBrought under control
- intimidatedMade fearful by threat
- coercedPressured into compliance
dominated · controlled · crushed · quashed · squelched · stifled · smothered · quelled
Officially disallowed
- redactedOfficially removed from view
- suppressedForcibly held down
- gaggedSilenced by obstruction
- expurgatedRemoved objectionable material
bowdlerized · sanitized · prohibited · forbidden · restricted · edited · omitted · deleted
Amount of space filled
- audioTransmitted sound content
- soundAudible wave phenomenon
- muteWithout voice or sound
- dampenedMade moist or subdued
deadened · hushed · softened · lowered · inaudible · noiseless · faint · muffled
Purposely not noticed
- overlookedNot noticed or considered
- neglectedNot given proper attention
- forgottenNo longer recalled
- invisibleCannot be seen
excluded · dismissed · unrecognized · unacknowledged · unnoticed · undervalued · unappreciated · sidelined
Device that inhibits output
- gunProjectile-launching weapon
- firearmProjectile weapon using explosives
- pistolCompact one-handed firearm
- rifleLong-barreled shoulder weapon
equipped · fitted · subsonic · assassin · covert · tactical · stealth · operative
Unable to talk
- dumbfoundedRendered speechless by surprise
- gobsmackedExtremely astonished
- flabbergastedOverwhelmed with amazement
- wordlessLacking spoken content
inarticulate · aghast · shocked · overwhelmed · tongue-tied · dumbstruck · awestruck · breathless
suppressed
Forcibly held down
- repressedHeld back from expression
- subjugatedBrought under control
- intimidatedMade fearful by threat
coerced · dominated · controlled · crushed · quashed · squelched · stifled · smothered · quelled · subdued
banned
Officially disallowed
- redactedOfficially removed from view
- suppressedForcibly held down
- gaggedSilenced by obstruction
expurgated · bowdlerized · sanitized · prohibited · forbidden · restricted · edited · omitted · deleted · erased
volume
Amount of space filled
dampened · deadened · hushed · softened · lowered · inaudible · noiseless · faint · muffled · stifled
ignored
Purposely not noticed
- overlookedNot noticed or considered
- neglectedNot given proper attention
- forgottenNo longer recalled
invisible · excluded · dismissed · unrecognized · unacknowledged · unnoticed · undervalued · unappreciated · sidelined · overshadowed
suppressor
Device that inhibits output
- gunProjectile-launching weapon
- firearmProjectile weapon using explosives
- pistolCompact one-handed firearm
rifle · equipped · fitted · subsonic · assassin · covert · tactical · stealth · operative · shot
speechless
Unable to talk
- dumbfoundedRendered speechless by surprise
- gobsmackedExtremely astonished
- flabbergastedOverwhelmed with amazement
wordless · inarticulate · aghast · shocked · overwhelmed · tongue-tied · dumbstruck · awestruck · breathless · amazed
- wrongedabused, mistreated, victimized, exploited, oppressed
- outcastsoutcast, pariah, pariahs, outcasts, outlaws
- silencequiet, mute, hush, stillness, muted
- censorshipbanned books, censored, banned, book banning, book bans
- status effectsdebuffed, poison, hexed, burn, cursed
- unexpressedunspoken, unstated, unuttered, suppressed, implicit
- dead silenceTotal absence of sound
- in silenceWithout audible expression
- moment of silenceBrief silent tribute
- awkward silenceUncomfortable lull in conversation
- break the silenceEnd a hush
- radio silenceAbsence of broadcast communication
silence, silences, silencing, silencer, silencers, unsilenced