hushed

American  

[huhsht] / hʌʃt /

adjective

1. (of speech) deliberately quiet, especially when silence is prudent, respectful, or requested.

   Only an occasional whisper could be heard among our hushed voices.

2. (of a place or situation) having a calm silence, often because those in attendance are being respectful or are waiting to hear something: sitting nervously in the hushed courtroom.

   the hushed galleries of a museum;

   sitting nervously in the hushed courtroom.

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Other Word Forms

• hushedly adverb

Etymology

Origin of hushed

First recorded in 1600–10; hush ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

All that crackling pressure on one athlete, the hushed ooooooohhs from the rafters, all of it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 14, 2026

Later, in the airport terminal, a slim, silver-haired conference attendee confirmed the snippets of hushed chatter I’d overheard in the Bellagio’s hallways.

From Slate • Jan. 13, 2026

Japan's emperor is generally treated with hushed reverence, but one man stripped away all decorum -- quite literally -- during a New Year's event on Friday, local media reported.

From Barron's • Jan. 2, 2026

Rob said Dianne hushed him out of the room, burst into tears and said "I can't do it."

From BBC • Dec. 24, 2025

The Castlemans were now in hushed conversation with Auntie Harrigan and did not look as if they needed assistance, but Mama raced over there anyway.

From "The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street" by Karina Yan Glaser

Related Words

• muted