hushed

USAGE SUMMARY

'hushed' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation that is very quiet. For example: "The room was filled with a hushed silence."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

My initial reaction on hearing the story on Twitter (the Carmichael scandal is bound to be hushed up by the mainstream media, predicted my dreary and inaccurate informant) was that Carmichael had shown bad character.

The Guardian

As night draws in, the building takes on a different quality: the wards are hushed; the endless corridors feel almost eerie.

The Guardian

Moscow hushed up the crime for 50 years, blaming it on the Nazis.

The Guardian

The road from Melbourne takes you through many miles of these hushed, charred sentinels before you come across the town itself.

The Guardian

Things like this are hushed up in football clubs.

The Guardian - Sport

"It was one of those things that was all hushed up.

The Guardian - Sport

So it is that when the IMF suggests that Greek banks need a transfusion of €20bn to cover over their cracks, the pesky Washingtonians are hushed up by Brussels.

The Guardian - Opinion

Kinnear explains all this with a quiet intensity and voice so hushed my tape recorder barely picks him up.

The Guardian

SOUND LEVEL Quiet without being hushed.

The New York Times - Food

If the name caused snickering, his position as an admiral's son hushed this up fast.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

But Mrs Dawisha's research is based on rare (hushed-up, some say) published material.She was expecting the book to come out this year with Cambridge University Press (CUP), which has published her seven previous works.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing an atmosphere, use "hushed" to convey a sense of reverence, anticipation, or secrecy. This creates a specific mood for your reader.

Common error

Avoid using "hushed" to describe physically restraining someone from speaking. "Hushed" describes a quiet atmosphere or suppressed information, not a physical action.

Linguistic Context

The word "hushed" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe a state of quietness or suppressed activity. As Ludwig AI explains, it indicates a very quiet environment or something being kept secret. The examples show "hushed" modifying words like "wards", "sentinels" and "tones".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "hushed" functions primarily as an adjective, describing something characterized by quietness or secrecy. Ludwig AI confirms it is a correct and usable word in written English. As illustrated by Ludwig's examples, "hushed" commonly appears in contexts related to news, formal business, and general descriptive writing. The related phrases offer alternative ways to express similar concepts, such as "subdued", "muted", or "suppressed". When using "hushed", it's best practice to employ it to set a specific atmosphere, while avoiding its misuse to describe physical restraint. Overall, "hushed" is a versatile and frequently used word in the English language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hushed up

Implies an effort to keep something secret or prevent it from becoming public knowledge.

hushed tones

Highlights the quality of speaking softly and quietly, often in a respectful or secretive manner.

subdued

Implies a reduction in intensity or liveliness, suggesting a quieter atmosphere.

muted

Refers to a softened or muffled sound, emphasizing the lack of volume.

quieted

Indicates a state of being made calm or silent, often after a period of noise or disturbance.

silenced

Highlights the act of making someone or something quiet, often implying force or authority.

softened

Emphasizes a reduction in harshness or intensity, leading to a more gentle atmosphere.

suppressed

Suggests that something is being deliberately kept from being known or expressed.

whispered

Conveys speaking in a low, quiet voice, often due to secrecy or reverence.

hush-hush

Informal term for something that is highly secret or confidential.

FAQs

How to use "hushed" in a sentence?

You can use "hushed" to describe a quiet or subdued atmosphere, as in "The library was "hushed" and peaceful", or to indicate that something is being kept secret, like "The scandal was "hushed up" by the company".

What can I say instead of "hushed"?

Alternatives to "hushed" include "subdued", "muted", or "silenced", depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "hushed silence" or "hush silence"?

"Hushed silence" is the correct and more common phrase. It emphasizes the quality of the silence. "Hush silence" is not standard English.

What's the difference between "hushed" and "quiet"?

"Quiet" generally refers to the absence of noise, while "hushed" implies a deliberate reduction in noise, often suggesting a sense of reverence or secrecy. A room can be simply "quiet", but a church might be "hushed".