silken
Americanadjective
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made of silk.
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like silk in smoothness, softness, glossiness, or delicateness.
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clad in silk.
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smoothly persuasive or ingratiating; mellifluous.
the senator's silken oratory.
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elegant; luxurious.
adjective
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made of silk
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resembling silk in smoothness or gloss
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dressed in silk
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soft and delicate
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rare luxurious or elegant
Etymology
Origin of silken
before 900; Middle English; Old English seolcen. See silk, -en 2
Explanation
If something is silken, it looks or feels as soft and shiny as silk. You can also describe things that feel like silk as silken, like your long silken hair that you coat with conditioner. The silken dress worn by a bride, or a silken scarf you wind around your neck may actually be made from the soft, slightly glossy material called silk. Your friend's long, silken hair, or a horse's silken mane, on the other hand, only resemble silk. Silken comes from the Latin word for "silk," sericum.
Vocabulary lists containing silken
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In a debut, Mr. Miyake gave a more silken and nuanced portrayal, shaping his lighter-than-air moments of elevation with turns to give his character an ardent and flourished sweep.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 30, 2026
A vegan version works just as well: silken tofu or vegan cream cheese blended with coconut cream and a little berry jam, perfect with grapes or berries.
From Salon • Mar. 9, 2026
He brought silken “descending dove” tone to his solo playing, but at low tone becoming more a voice from afar than soloist.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026
For dessert, a slice of Basque cheesecake, no crust, just burnt sugar edges and silken center, served with fruit.
From Salon • Nov. 8, 2025
Kaede felt it like a silken scarf sliding quickly around her neck.
From "Huntress" by Malinda Lo
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
