# silenced

/ˈsaɪɫənst/ (US) · /sˈaɪlənst/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/silenced
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. prevented from speaking

adjective · CEFR B2

prevented from expressing an opinion or telling the truth, usually by someone in power.

For teachers: subjected to the suppression of expression or dissent; often used in political or social contexts regarding censorship.

- The journalist felt silenced after the government threatened to close her newspaper.
- The report highlights the plight of silenced whistleblowers who were intimidated into withdrawing their testimony regarding corporate corruption.

### 2. made quiet or soundless

adjective · CEFR B2

made quiet, or having the sound reduced by a device.

For teachers: rendered quiet or soundless; specifically describing a firearm or engine fitted with a dampening device.

- The room became silenced as soon as the principal walked onto the stage.
- The assassin used a silenced pistol to ensure the noise would not alert the guards in the adjacent hallway.

### 3. electronic alerts turned off

adjective · CEFR B1

having the sound or notifications turned off on an electronic device.

For teachers: describing a state where auditory alerts or notifications on a digital device have been deactivated.

- I kept my phone silenced during the movie so I wouldn't disturb anyone.
- The application allows users to keep specific threads silenced while maintaining audible alerts for emergency contacts.

## Examples

- The silenced alarm no longer woke the neighbors.
- The government faced international criticism after several silenced journalists were forced to flee the country.
- The novel explores the lives of silenced generations whose stories were systematically erased from the official historical record during the decades of military rule.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.