Quieten
What it means
To make or become calmer or less noisy.
Reach for it when describing a gentle reduction in sound, agitation, or activity
A soft melody helped quieten the restless audience.
Words to choose between 6
| everyday | |
|---|---|
| warm |
|
| professional | |
| formal | |
| literary |
-
everyday
Fits when agitation rather than sound is the problem
Careful Calm does not specifically mean lower volume.
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everyday
hush
Fits when voices or a room become silent
Careful Hush can sound like a command and may not calm emotion.
-
warm
Fits when comfort reduces distress
Careful Soothing can occur while noise continues.
-
professional
settle
Fits when activity gradually becomes orderly
Careful Settle can also mean decide or sink.
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formal
mute
Fits when sound is deliberately reduced or removed
Careful Mute can imply mechanical silencing rather than gentle easing.
-
literary
still
Fits when movement and sound both come to rest
Careful Still suggests a more complete stop than quieten.
Opposites 3
- rouse
- agitate
- amplify
Common phrases 3
-
quieten the room
The chair raised one hand to quieten the room.
-
quieten down
The workshop began to quieten down after the final delivery.
-
quieten anxiety
A clear explanation can quieten anxiety before the scan.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Paul2520, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated