silencing
v.v. to stop someone from speaking or to prevent a sound from being heard. You use this when someone is forced to be quiet or when a noise is blocked out.
v. the present participle of 'silence'; refers to the act of suppressing speech, preventing the expression of opinions, or muting a sound. Often used metaphorically in political contexts to describe the suppression of dissent.
The government is silencing its critics.
The new law was criticized for silencing local journalists who were trying to report on corruption.
By silencing the opposition through restrictive media policies, the regime managed to maintain a facade of national unity during the election cycle.
As a transitive verb, it requires a direct object representing the person, group, or sound being suppressed.
The silencing of the crowd was impressive.The silence of the crowd was impressive.Learners often use the gerund 'silencing' (the act of making quiet) when they mean the noun 'silence' (the state of being quiet).