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
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.
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
Teyana Taylor, who is up for best supporting actress for One Battle After Another, is bang on trend with the colour of her silken ruffled dress, in a deep, rich brown.
From BBC • Feb. 22, 2026
It’s also a perfect moment to sneak in some supportive protein: protein powder, silken tofu, or nut butters.
From Salon • Jan. 29, 2026
In one challenge, she made a cured salmon tartare with whipped, silken tofu.
From Salon • May 21, 2025
Her silken ruffles rustled and muttered about her.
From "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston
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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.