met with silence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "met with silence" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to describe a situation where someone speaks or makes a statement, but receives no response or reaction from others. Example: When I asked my boss for a raise, my request was met with silence.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was met with silence.

Independent

Her words were met with silence.

The New York Times - Magazine

The suggestion has been met with silence.

Independent

But I was met with silence.

The New Yorker

His challenge was met with silence.

The New York Times - Books

He said he was met with silence.

The New York Times - Tech

The request was met with silence.

The New York Times

She was mostly met with silence.

The New York Times - Sports

He was met with silence.

The New York Times

I was met with silence.

The Guardian

This suggestion almost always met with silence.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "met with silence" to effectively convey a lack of response or reaction in situations where a response is expected or desired. It's especially impactful when highlighting indifference, disapproval, or a failure to acknowledge something.

Common error

Avoid using "met with silence" when simply describing a quiet environment. The phrase implies an expected response that did not occur, not just the absence of noise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "met with silence" functions as a predicate describing the reaction to a preceding action or statement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a grammatically correct way to express a lack of response. It usually indicates disapproval, disagreement, shock, lack of interest or that some kind of response was expected but didn't happen.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "met with silence" is a powerful way to describe a lack of response. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use. It is frequently used in news and media to neutrally report on situations where a reaction was expected but didn't occur. While suitable for both formal and informal contexts, it's crucial to use it when there's an implied expectation of a response, differentiating it from merely describing a quiet setting. Consider alternatives like "received no response" or "was greeted with quiet" for subtle variations in meaning. Mastering "met with silence" allows for nuanced communication, effectively highlighting the significance of a non-response.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

received no response

Focuses on the absence of a reply, emphasizing the lack of communication.

was greeted with quiet

Emphasizes the peaceful absence of sound as the reaction.

evoked no reaction

Highlights the failure to produce any kind of response or feeling.

drew a blank

Implies a lack of understanding or acknowledgement from the audience.

encountered a void

Uses a metaphorical term for nothingness emphasizing a complete lack of response.

was met with a noncommittal reaction

Specifies the kind of neutral and unrevealing response.

faced a wall of silence

Implies an intentional obstruction or resistance conveyed through silence.

fell on deaf ears

Suggests the message wasn't heard or considered.

produced no echo

Symbolizes that the message or action had no lasting impact or reverberation.

was given the cold shoulder

Suggests intentional ignoring and rejection.

FAQs

What does it mean when something is "met with silence"?

When something is "met with silence", it means there was no response or reaction to it. This can indicate disapproval, disagreement, shock, or simply a lack of interest.

What can I say instead of "met with silence"?

You can use alternatives like "received no response", "was greeted with quiet", or "evoked no reaction" depending on the context.

Is "met with silence" a formal or informal phrase?

"Met with silence" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding language and situation than the phrase itself.

How do I use "met with silence" in a sentence?

You can use "met with silence" to describe how someone's statement, action, or request was received. For example, "His proposal was "met with silence" from the board of directors."