Silent vs. quiet: what’s the difference?
The short answer
Silent implies complete absence of sound, while quiet indicates a low level of noise, not necessarily absence.
What they have in common
Both words relate to low noise or lack of sound.
Examples
silent
- The room was silent after the announcement.
- She remained silent during the entire meeting.
quiet
- Please keep the noise down and be quiet.
- The neighborhood is very quiet at night.
Which one is more common?
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