hushed 1 of 2

adjective

1
as in quiet
free from disturbing noise or uproar entered the hushed interior of the Gothic church

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2
as in tranquil
free from storms or physical disturbance the hushed lake was smooth as glass the morning after the storm

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3
as in quieted
mostly or entirely without sound a hushed sickroom

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4
as in confidential
not known or meant to be known by the general populace hushed negotiations between the two countries

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hushed

2 of 2

verb

past tense of hush
1
as in cooled
to become still and orderly the whole room hushed when the queen made her entrance

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2
as in quieted (down)
to stop talking the principal asked the children to hush and pay attention during the ceremony

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3
as in shushed
to stop the noise or speech of he tried to hush the baby by making a lot of silly faces

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hushed
Adjective
Set the scene Despite being just a stone’s throw from Oxford Street, the hotel has a hushed air and a seriously exclusive crowd. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026 In other words, get ready to read a lot and yet, surprisingly, to enjoy the immersion, as one might the hushed thrill of a surveillance sequence. — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026 In their eloquence and their ways of avoiding easy comfort, the poems also deal with the hushed experience of surviving someone else’s death and fulfill the urge to say something not only real and true but formal and exact, as though for a ceremony. — Colm Tóibín, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026 That ultimate truth had been given to them on their journey — a word said in a hushed voice. — Claire Hoffman, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026 The violins dig into the first three notes of a rising theme — only to tumble suddenly into a hushed dance, which Mahler marks grazioso. — Justin Davidson, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026 But when, 30 minutes in, the discussion turns to the man who had more impact on Wasim’s cricketing career than any other, the answers become more hushed and halting. — James Wallace, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026 The smell of freshly ground espresso and incense fills the air, and staff speak to patients in hushed, discreet tones, almost as if discussing state secrets. — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 Palmer himself paced the room on a phone call, doling out smiles of encouragement and inspiring a hushed reverence in his wake. — Colleen McNally Arnett, Southern Living, 20 Aug. 2026
Verb
The lounge is a real scene, especially during afternoon tea, when a perfectly coiffed crowd has hushed discussions about worldly matters. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026 The normally festive and rowdy crowd inside the basketball arena in Dallas quickly hushed as a five-minute memorial video began playing. — ABC News, 10 Sep. 2026 Moments ago, the courtroom was hushed when the mistrial was declared, marking an emotional close for this jury in the nearly six-week trial. — Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 4 Sep. 2026 Salesforce has clearly hushed the skeptics on Wednesday night. — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026 The impact is lavish yet hushed; welcoming yet sharply articulated. — Genevieve Walker, Architectural Digest, 2 Aug. 2026 But within the cozy world of footballing governance, any dissent was mostly hushed—except in Norway. — Tom Kludt, Vanity Fair, 17 July 2026 Behind the station doors are 150 polished European-style rooms, hushed corridors and a few magnificent surprises. — David Hochman, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026 The years have only intensified Zimmerman’s mournful, hushed vocal performance, and Dream Me a Dream often plays out like a bedtime story spun by a beloved elder, accompanied by soft strings, shakers, and even a synth or two. — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 19 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hushed
  1. quiet
  2. tranquil
  3. silent
  4. confidential
  5. cooled
  6. dried up
  7. shushed
  8. peaceful
Adjective
  • Firms that know exactly where the line sits hold quiet advantages their competitors cannot purchase or replicate.
    — Matt Alt, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Glass admitted that as a young producer, he was intimidated by Adams and his quiet confidence.
    — Scott Detrow, NPR, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of quiet
Adjective
  • Bedrooms are tranquil and restorative, with clean lines, balconies, and mountain views that create a sense of space.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 July 2026
  • Located right across the water from Miami, Key Biscayne is filled with tranquil experiences in nature, delicious dining options with incredible views of the water, and even a little bit of history to explore.
    — Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 13 June 2026
Definition of tranquil
Adjective
  • Final Thoughts The Hisense 8,000 BTU UltraSlim Smart Inverter is a standout window air conditioner that effortlessly balances sleek design, near-silent operation, and top-tier performance.
    — John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The California Democratic Party opposes the measure, but many of its leading officials have stayed silent.
    — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of silent
Adjective
  • And a later district filing to the state acknowledged that more than 500 people who worked for district contractors likely had Social Security numbers and other confidential information exposed.
    — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Ziccarelli said that Cochran claimed the charges were withdrawn because the defendant was working as a confidential informant.
    — Mike Darnay, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of confidential
Verb
  • But once Bloys was confirmed as the new top boss of streaming for Skydance, the Bajaria speculation cooled off.
    — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Rent growth has cooled since its pandemic-era spike, hovering near zero from mid-2023 through 2025, and rents on new leases are now edging down.
    — Heather Occhino, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of cooled
Verb
  • For 25 years, interest in AI research waned and funding dried up.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Yet Kyiv’s stockpile has dried up as the United States husbands an arsenal that has been significantly depleted by the Iran war.
    — Eric Ciaramella, Foreign Affairs, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of dried up
Verb
  • They were repeatedly shushed instead as the Nittany Lions (3-3, 0-3) fell to 13-10 in their marquee event after failing to keep pace with a USC offense that averaged nearly eight yards per play through the first three quarters.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Oct. 2026
  • As the moment unfolded, Savannah shushed the future king and even briefly placed her hand over his mouth in an effort to keep him composed.
    — Staff Author, InStyle, 13 June 2026
Definition of shushed
Adjective
  • The majority of protesters have been peaceful, but violence on the fringes is having an impact, with a daily menu of fireworks thrown at police and volleys of tear gas fired at high school pupils.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Anger boiling over While many of the latest demonstrations have been peaceful, anger has boiled over.
    — Colette Davidson, Christian Science Monitor, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of peaceful

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Cite this Entry

“Hushed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hushed. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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