noiselessly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "noiselessly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action performed without making any noise. Example: "The cat moved noiselessly across the room, careful not to disturb anyone."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Lowering the toilet lid as noiselessly as I can, I climb up on top.

Independent

Kvitova, contrastingly, plays tennis noiselessly, with the notable exception of a loud, sudden squawk, as if somebody has inadvertently stepped on a chicken.

Independent

In the distance, a plane, a cluster of lights, was sailing noiselessly east through a few rags of clouds.

The New Yorker

If, like some of us, you had the television in the bedroom, the trick was to turn it on noiselessly, pivoting the TV trolley so that the blue glow avoided a spouse's sleeping eyes, and then to enjoy the drama in silence: the crowds, the suffering, even your own muted exaltation.

The New Yorker

There, Thomas Kaufmann, a forty-one-year-old Swiss butler, glided noiselessly to the front of the class — a demonstration of a key tenet of butler practice, that help should be "silent and invisible" — to deliver a lecture on catering to the needs and whims of the super-rich.

The New Yorker

The political calculus of same-sex marriage was such that a Democratic President, Bill Clinton, buckled noiselessly to the demands of Congress, signing the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which forbids federal recognition of such marriages and sharply limits the significance of state legislation.

The New Yorker

She bent her knees and plucked it noiselessly from the belt.

The New Yorker

Noiselessly, I'd sit up, too, and look past Mother, out the window, at the cattle merchants driving the animals silently past our house, the freshly bathed cattle glinting in the moonlight like giant pieces of glazed pottery.

The New Yorker

Snow misted down from the pines like pixie dust; now and then, as the sun warmed the boughs, clumps fell noiselessly to the street.

The New Yorker

The spell isn't broken even when armed men come after the girls and their offspring, and the ensuing tragedy arouses, in Talmadge, a plague of uncertainty that builds noiselessly.

The New Yorker

He went out to listen, leaning over the bannister and sliding noiselessly down, a few steps at a time.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you describe the lack of noise, you can use "noiselessly" to suggest stealth, peace, or a surreal quality, depending on the context.

Common error

Avoid using "noiselessly" when "quietly" or "silently" would suffice. "Noiselessly" is most effective when the absence of noise is a key feature of the action or scene, or it can be confused with the double negative.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "noiselessly" functions primarily to modify verbs, indicating that an action is performed without producing any sound. This enhances descriptions by emphasizing the lack of noise, as seen in Ludwig's examples of movements and operations performed in silence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "noiselessly" is an adverb that describes actions performed without any sound. It's grammatically correct, according to Ludwig, and frequently used in writing, particularly in News & Media contexts. While synonyms like "silently" and "quietly" exist, "noiselessly" specifically emphasizes the complete absence of noise. To use it effectively, ensure that the lack of noise is a key aspect of the action you're describing, enhancing the descriptive and atmospheric qualities of your writing. Understanding these nuances helps writers avoid common errors and use "noiselessly" with precision and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

silently

A direct synonym, emphasizing the lack of noise.

soundlessly

Highlights the absence of sound, often in a more emphatic way.

without a sound

Focuses on the complete absence of any sound during an action.

without any noise

Explicitly states the absence of noise, useful for clarity.

in complete silence

Emphasizes the overall quietness surrounding the action.

inaudibly

Indicates that the sound is impossible to hear.

in a hushed manner

Suggests a deliberate effort to minimize sound.

without so much as a whisper

Highlights extreme quietness, implying almost impossible silence.

in stealth

Implies secrecy and careful movement to avoid detection by sound.

on tiptoe

Describes moving quietly and carefully, typically on one's toes.

FAQs

How is "noiselessly" used in a sentence?

The adverb "noiselessly" describes an action performed without making any noise. For example, "The cat moved "noiselessly" across the room."

What words can replace "noiselessly"?

Similar words include "silently", "quietly", and "soundlessly". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "noiselessly" or "silently"?

"Silently" is generally more common and widely understood. "Noiselessly" emphasizes the complete absence of noise and can add a more descriptive or dramatic touch, but it should be used where the lack of noise is particularly noteworthy.

How does "noiselessly" differ from "quietly"?

"Quietly" implies a low level of noise, while "noiselessly" implies no noise at all. Use "noiselessly" when you want to stress the complete absence of sound in an action or environment. "Quietly" is also more versatile.