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Sullen vs Silence - What's the difference?

sullen | silence |

As nouns the difference between sullen and silence

is that sullen is one who is solitary, or lives alone; a hermit while silence is the lack of any sound.

As an adjective sullen

is having a brooding ill temper; sulky.

As a verb silence is

to make (someone or something) silent.

As an interjection silence is

a common imperative instructing the addressed to remain silent.

sullen

English

Adjective

(er)
  • Having a brooding ill temper; sulky.
  • * Prior
  • And sullen I forsook the imperfect feast.
  • Gloomy; dismal; foreboding.
  • * 1593 , , IV. v. 88:
  • Our solemn hymns to sullen dirges change;
    (Milton)
  • Sluggish; slow.
  • * Sir Walter Scott
  • The larger stream was placid, and even sullen , in its course.
  • (obsolete) Lonely; solitary; desolate.
  • (obsolete) Mischievous; malignant; unpropitious.
  • * Dryden
  • Such sullen planets at my birth did shine.
  • (obsolete) Obstinate; intractable.
  • * Tillotson
  • Things are as sullen as we are.

    Synonyms

    * sulky, morose

    Antonyms

    * cheerful * content * lighthearted * pleased

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) One who is solitary, or lives alone; a hermit.
  • (Piers Plowman)
  • Sullen feelings or manners; sulks; moroseness.
  • to have the sullens
  • * 1593 , , II. i. 139:
  • And let them die that age and sullens have;
    English adjectives ending in -en

    silence

    English

    Noun

    (wikipedia silence) (en-noun)
  • The lack of any sound.
  • The act of refraining from speaking.
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=5 , passage=Then we relapsed into a discomfited silence , and wished we were anywhere else. But Miss Thorn relieved the situation by laughing aloud, and with such a hearty enjoyment that instead of getting angry and more mortified we began to laugh ourselves, and instantly felt better.}}
  • * D. Webster
  • The administration itself keeps a profound silence .
  • Form of meditative worship practiced by the Society of Friends (Quakers); meeting for worship.
  • Synonyms

    * quietness

    Derived terms

    * blue wall of silence * cone of silence * conspiracy of silence * deafening silence * moment of silence * radio silence * silence is golden * tower of silence * two-minute silence * vow of silence * wall of silence

    Verb

    (silenc)
  • To make (someone or something) silent.
  • Can you silence the crowd, so we can start the show?
  • To suppress criticism, etc.
  • Silence the critics.
    Silence the doubters.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=December 19 , author=Kerry Brown , title=Kim Jong-il obituary , work=The Guardian citation , page= , passage=A state ideology, mixing nationalism, and basic Marxist economics, going under the name "Juche", was constructed, and Kim Il-sung effectively silenced , disposed of and cleared away any opposition, isolating the country and exercising an iron grip on the military, the state media and the government and party organs.}}
  • (Molecular biology) To block gene expression.
  • Derived terms

    * silencer

    See also

    * quiet, noise, loud, deaf, audible.

    Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • A common imperative instructing the addressed to remain silent.
  • * Silence ! Enough of your insolence!
  • Synonyms

    * be quiet! * hush! * whist!

    Statistics

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    Anagrams

    * 1000 English basic words ----