Quiet vs. Silent — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 30, 2023
Quiet refers to low noise or subdued sound; Silent means no sound at all.
Difference Between Quiet and Silent
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Quiet describes a situation or environment where there's minimal noise or disturbance. It could be a soft murmur in the background or the gentle rustling of leaves. Silent, on the other hand, denotes a complete absence of sound, a void where even whispers are nonexistent.
In the realm of communication, when someone is described as quiet, they might be speaking softly or less frequently. A silent person, conversely, does not speak at all, choosing to remain mute.
When we talk about machines or electronic devices, a quiet machine operates with low noise, perhaps humming gently in the background. A silent machine is inaudible, producing no detectable noise.
In literature or drama, a quiet moment might still contain ambient sounds, perhaps serving to underscore the mood. A silent moment, however, is stark, and devoid of any auditory sensation, often heightening the dramatic tension.
There's also a distinction in the duration or permanence of the two. A quiet place might occasionally experience disruptions or louder moments. A silent place maintains its lack of sound consistently.
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Comparison Chart
Sound Presence
Low or subdued sound
Complete absence of sound
Communication
Speaking softly or less frequently
Not speaking at all
Electronic Devices
Operates with low noise
Produces no detectable noise
Literary Use
Ambient sounds may still be present
Devoid of any auditory sensation
Duration/Permanence
Might occasionally experience louder moments
Maintains lack of sound consistently
Compare with Definitions
Quiet
Calm, without agitation.
The sea was quiet after the storm.
Silent
Not speaking.
She remained silent during the meeting.
Quiet
Subdued or restrained in manner or behavior.
He had a quiet confidence about him.
Silent
Not expressed aloud.
He gave her a silent nod of approval.
Quiet
Free from disturbance or upheaval.
They lived in a quiet neighborhood.
Silent
Failing to convey or represent action.
A silent film has no spoken dialogue.
Quiet
Making little or no noise
I was as quiet as I could be, but he knew I was there
The car has a quiet, economical engine
Silent
Marked by absence of noise or sound; still
The silent forest.
Quiet
Carried out discreetly, secretly, or with moderation
We wanted a quiet wedding
I'll have a quiet word with him
Silent
Not inclined to speak; not talkative
He's the strong, silent type.
Quiet
Absence of noise or bustle; silence; calm
The ringing of the telephone shattered the early morning quiet
Silent
Not speaking or refraining from speech
Do be silent.
Quiet
Make or become silent, calm, or still
The journalists quieted down as Judy stepped on to the dais
There are ways of quieting kids down
Silent
Not saying anything about a particular matter; making no mention
The poem is silent on the reason for the speaker's sadness.
Quiet
Making or characterized by little or no noise
A quiet library.
A quiet street.
A quiet, well tuned engine.
Silent
Not voiced or expressed; unspoken
A silent curse.
Silent consent.
Quiet
Free of turmoil and agitation; calm
A quiet lake.
A quiet place in the country.
Silent
Having no spoken dialogue and usually no soundtrack. Used of a film.
Quiet
Providing or allowing relaxation; restful; soothing
A quiet afternoon nap.
A quiet tune on the flute.
Silent
(Linguistics) Having no phonetic value; unpronounced
The silent b in subtle.
Quiet
Not showy or bright; subdued
A room decorated in quiet colors.
Silent
Inactive; quiescent
A silent volcano.
Quiet
Restrained, as in style; understated
A quiet strength.
A quiet life.
Silent
Producing no detectable signs or symptoms
A silent heart attack.
Quiet
Out of public scrutiny; known or discussed by few
Wanted to keep the incident quiet until after the election.
Silent
A silent movie.
Quiet
The quality or condition of being quiet
"A menacing quiet fills the empty streets" (Time).
Silent
Free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet.
Quiet
To cause to become quiet
The teacher quieted the students.
Silent
Not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn; not loquacious; not talkative.
Quiet
To make (a title) secure by freeing from uncertainties or adverse claims as to the ownership.
Silent
Keeping at rest; inactive; calm; undisturbed.
Quiet
To become quiet
The child wouldn't quiet down for me.
Silent
(pronunciation) Not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent.
The e is silent in fable.
Silent letters can make some words difficult to spell.
The “l” in the English word "salmon" is silent.
Quiet
With little or no sound; free of disturbing noise.
I can't hear the music; it is too quiet.
Silent
Having no effect; not operating; inefficient.
Quiet
Having little motion or activity; calm.
The sea was quiet
A quiet night at home
All quiet on the Western front
Silent
(technology) With the sound turned off; usually on silent or in silent mode.
My phone was on silent.
Quiet
Not busy, of low quantity.
The traffic was quiet for a Monday morning.
Business was quiet for the season.
Silent
(technology) Without audio capability.
Quiet
Not talking much or not talking loudly; reserved.
He's a very quiet man usually, but is very chatty after a few beers.
Silent
Hidden, unseen.
A silent voter; a silent partner
Quiet
Not showy; undemonstrative.
A quiet dress
Quiet colours
A quiet movement
Silent
Of an edit or change to a text, not explicitly acknowledged.
Silent revisions; a silent emendation
Quiet
(software) Requiring little or no interaction.
A quiet install
Silent
(genetics) Not implying significant modifications which would affect a peptide sequence.
Quiet
(transitive) To cause (someone or something) to become quiet.
Can you quiet your child? He’s making lots of noise.
The umpire quieted the crowd so the game could continue in peace.
Silent
Undiagnosed or undetected because of an absence of symptoms.
Quiet
(intransitive) To become quiet or calm.
When you quiet, we can start talking.
Silent
Of distilled spirit: having no flavour or odour.
Quiet
The absence of sound; quietness.
There was a strange quiet in the normally very lively plaza.
We need a bit of quiet before we can start the show.
Silent
(uncountable) That which is silent; a time of silence.
Quiet
The absence of movement; stillness, tranquility.
Silent
A silent movie
Quiet
The absence of disturbance or trouble; peace, security.
Silent
Free from sound or noise; absolutely still; perfectly quiet.
How silent is this town!
Quiet
Be quiet.
Quiet! The children are sleeping.
Silent
Not speaking; indisposed to talk; speechless; mute; taciturn; not loquacious; not talkative.
Ulysses, adds he, was the most eloquent and most silent of men.
This new-created world, whereof in hellFame is not silent.
Quiet
In a state of rest or calm; without stir, motion, or agitation; still; as, a quiet sea; quiet air.
They . . . were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we shall kill him.
Silent
Keeping at rest; inactive; calm; undisturbed; as, the wind is silent.
Quiet
Free from noise or disturbance; hushed; still.
Silent
Not pronounced; having no sound; quiescent; as, e is silent in "fable."
Quiet
Not excited or anxious; calm; peaceful; placid; settled; as, a quiet life; a quiet conscience.
That son, who on the quiet state of manSuch trouble brought.
Silent
Having no effect; not operating; inefficient.
Cause . . . silent, virtueless, and dead.
Quiet
Not giving offense; not exciting disorder or trouble; not turbulent; gentle; mild; meek; contented.
The ornament of a meek and quiet spirit.
I will sit as quiet as a lamb.
Silent
That which is silent; a time of silence.
Quiet
Not showy; not such as to attract attention; undemonstrative; as, a quiet dress; quiet colors; a quiet movement.
Silent
Marked by absence of sound;
A silent house
Soundless footsteps on the grass
The night was still
Quiet
The quality or state of being quiet, or in repose; as an hour or a time of quiet.
Silent
Failing to speak or communicate etc when expected to;
The witness remained silent
Quiet
Freedom from disturbance, noise, or alarm; stillness; tranquillity; peace; security.
And join with thee, calm Peace and Quiet.
Silent
Indicated by necessary connotation though not expressed directly;
Gave silent consent
A tacit agreement
The understood provisos of a custody agreement
Quiet
To stop motion in; to still; to reduce to a state of rest, or of silence.
Silent
Not made to sound;
The silent `h' at the beginning of `honor'
In French certain letters are often unsounded
Quiet
To calm; to appease; to pacify; to lull; to allay; to tranquillize; as, to quiet the passions; to quiet clamors or disorders; to quiet pain or grief.
Quiet yourselves, I pray, and be at peace.
Silent
Having a frequency below or above the range of human audibility;
A silent dog whistle
Quiet
To become still, silent, or calm; - often with down; as, be soon quieted down.
Silent
Unable to speak because of hereditary deafness
Quiet
A period of calm weather;
There was a lull in the storm
Silent
Making no sound.
The night was silent, save for the chirping crickets.
Quiet
An untroubled state; free from disturbances
Silent
Not active or in operation.
The factory has been silent for years.
Quiet
The absence of sound;
He needed silence in order to sleep
The street was quiet
Quiet
A disposition free from stress or emotion
Quiet
Become quiet or quieter;
The audience fell silent when the speaker entered
Quiet
Make calm or still;
Quiet the dragons of worry and fear
Quiet
Characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity;
A quiet life
A quiet throng of onlookers
Quiet peace-loving people
The factions remained quiet for almost 10 years
Quiet
Free of noise or uproar; or making little if any sound;
A quiet audience at the concert
The room was dark and quiet
Quiet
Not showy or obtrusive;
Clothes in quiet good taste
Quiet
In a softened tone;
Hushed voices
Muted trumpets
A subdued whisper
A quiet reprimand
Quiet
Without untoward incident or disruption;
A placid existence
Quiet times
Quiet
Free from disturbance;
A ribbon of sand between the angry sea and the placid bay
The quiet waters of a lagoon
A lake of tranquil blue water reflecting a tranquil blue sky
A smooth channel crossing
Scarcely a ripple on the still water
Unruffled water
Quiet
Of the sun; characterized by a low level of surface phenomena like sun spots e.g.
Quiet
With little or no activity or no agitation (`quiet' is a nonstandard variant for `quietly');
Her hands rested quietly in her lap
The rock star was quietly led out the back door
Sit here as quiet as you can
Quiet
Making little noise.
The library was quiet with only the sound of turning pages.
Quiet
Lacking in activity or bustle.
The town was quiet on Sundays.
Common Curiosities
Is 'quiet' the same as 'silent'?
No, 'quiet' refers to low noise, while 'silent' means no sound at all.
In literature, what's the difference between a quiet moment and a silent moment?
A quiet moment might have soft background sounds, while a silent moment lacks any sound.
Can a person be described as quietly confident?
Yes, it means they have a subtle, understated confidence.
How is 'silent' used in film terminology?
A "silent film" refers to movies without spoken dialogue, only visuals and music.
Can music be quiet?
Yes, music can be played at a quiet volume, but it's not silent.
If someone speaks in a quiet voice, are they silent?
No, a quiet voice still produces sound, whereas being silent means not speaking.
Can machines be described as quiet or silent?
Yes, a quiet machine has low noise, and a silent one produces no noise.
Can a place be both quiet and silent?
Yes, a place can be so quiet it feels almost silent.
Is silence always associated with peace?
Not necessarily. Silence can be peaceful or unsettling, depending on context.
What does a silent gesture mean?
It's a gesture made without speaking or making noise.
Is a whisper considered quiet or silent?
A whisper is considered quiet, as it still produces sound.
Is being silent the same as being mute?
Being mute generally means unable to speak. Silent is a choice or state of making no sound.
Can someone be silent in their agreement?
Yes, it means they agree without verbally expressing it.
Which is louder, a quiet room or a silent room?
A quiet room, since it may still have some ambient sounds, while a silent room has none.
Can a place be so quiet you can hear a pin drop?
Yes, it's an expression indicating extreme quietness.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
