English Vocabulary in Use - 63 Sounds: listen up!

silent

without noise or talking; used for people and things that are perhaps unexpectedly or surprisingly quiet

silent films/movies

films made before sound was introduced

quiet

without much noise or activity, or not talking much

noiseless

without noise (usually used as an adverb in formal or literary style)

soundless

without sound (usually used as an adverb in formal or literal style to indicate an unexpected lack of sound)

slammed

closed with a loud bang

squeaking

high, irritating voice

pounding

dull, beating sounds

creaked

noise of friction of wood and/or metal

sizzled

sound made by frying

rang out

typically used for the sound of a gunshot

crashing

loud, heavy noise, typically used for waves

hoots/toots

sound made by a car horn

wailing

making a rising and falling sound

hammered

knocked very loudly and repeatedly

eerie

rather scary

deafening

extremely and painfully loud

grating

unpleasant, irritating

piercing

high noise that hurts the ears

high-pitched

higher than most voices, like a whistle

inaudible

impossible to hear

you could have heard a pin drop

there was a total silence

I can’t hear myself think

said when people are making too much noise

peace and quiet

calm and quiet period, after a noisy time

as quiet as a mouse

very quiet indeed