silent treatment: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1informal, semi-formal
Quick answer
What does “silent treatment” mean?
A refusal to communicate with someone as a form of punishment or manipulation.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A refusal to communicate with someone as a form of punishment or manipulation.
A passive-aggressive strategy of ignoring another person entirely, often used in personal relationships, workplaces, or social settings to express disapproval, hurt, or anger without verbal confrontation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Concept and term are identical. Slightly more associated with dramatic interpersonal conflicts in American media portrayals.
Connotations
Universally negative, seen as immature, hurtful, or emotionally abusive.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “silent treatment” in a Sentence
SUBJ give OBJ the silent treatmentOBJ get the silent treatment from SUBJVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “silent treatment” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- After the row, she gave him the silent treatment for a full three days.
- His tactic of using the silent treatment was emotionally draining.
American English
- Giving someone the silent treatment is a pretty immature way to handle conflict.
- The silent treatment from my roommate is making the apartment tense.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Unprofessional and detrimental to teamwork; may be cited in HR complaints about a hostile work environment.
Academic
Studied in psychology and sociology as a form of non-physical aggression and relational manipulation.
Everyday
Commonly used to describe conflicts between partners, family members, friends, or flatmates.
Technical
A maladaptive conflict resolution strategy, sometimes discussed in therapy and counselling contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “silent treatment”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “silent treatment”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “silent treatment”
- Using 'silent cure' (incorrect). Forgetting the definite article 'the' (e.g., 'give someone silent treatment').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not always, but it is widely considered a passive-aggressive and manipulative behaviour. Brief periods of quiet to cool down are different from prolonged, punitive ignoring.
Rarely. While choosing not to engage in a heated argument can be wise, the term 'silent treatment' specifically implies the intent to punish or manipulate, not to de-escalate.
'Needing space' is communicated with the intent to self-regulate and return to the discussion. The 'silent treatment' is uncommunicated, punitive, and aimed at the other person.
Experts suggest calmly stating the impact ('I notice you're not speaking to me, and it's hurtful'), avoiding chasing or pleading, and setting boundaries about the need for communication to resolve issues.
A refusal to communicate with someone as a form of punishment or manipulation.
Silent treatment is usually informal, semi-formal in register.
Silent treatment: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsaɪ.lənt ˈtriːt.mənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsaɪ.lənt ˈtriːt.mənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To give someone the cold shoulder (less severe)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a person with a sealed mouth (silent) handing a nasty bottle of medicine (treatment) to someone. The 'treatment' is ironically painful, not healing.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMUNICATION IS A GIFT / WITHDRAWAL OF COMMUNICATION IS WITHDRAWAL OF AFFECTION OR PUNISHMENT.
Practice
Quiz
What is the 'silent treatment' primarily considered?