1
: made or consisting of silk
2
: resembling silk: such as
b(1)
: agreeably smooth : harmonious
a silken voice
(2)
3
a
: dressed in silk
silken ankles
b
: having a richly luxurious quality
… the same silken surroundings encountered at the restaurant's far more expensive evening meal.—
Elaine Tait
Elaine TaitExamples of silken in a Sentence
the silken texture of the synthetic fabric
she was unaccustomed to living in such silken surroundings
Recent Examples on the Web
Best for chicken breasts, salad veggies, silken tofu, bread, and dairy.
—Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Apr. 2026
The silken charcoal bathrobes are a decadent touch, as are the welcome torrents of piping water that rain from monsoon showers and the wonderful organic soaps.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
The larvae infest the food but can move some distance away to pupate, spinning a silken cocoon and attaching to the wall, under a shelf, or inside a box of food.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2026
The restaurant became a minor sensation—the titular dish is terrific, silken and subtle and rich, but what most stood out was a rotating lineup of specials, mostly hawker-style Malaysian fare, particularly the food of Klang, his parents’ home town, on Malaysia’s western coast.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for silken
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Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Apr. 2026
The silken charcoal bathrobes are a decadent touch, as are the welcome torrents of piping water that rain from monsoon showers and the wonderful organic soaps.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
The larvae infest the food but can move some distance away to pupate, spinning a silken cocoon and attaching to the wall, under a shelf, or inside a box of food.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2026
The restaurant became a minor sensation—the titular dish is terrific, silken and subtle and rich, but what most stood out was a rotating lineup of specials, mostly hawker-style Malaysian fare, particularly the food of Klang, his parents’ home town, on Malaysia’s western coast.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for silken
Cite this Entry
“Silken.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/silken. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
silken
adjective
silk·en
ˈsil-kən 
1
: made of or with silk
2
: resembling silk especially in soft smooth feel
3
: pleasantly smooth
a silken voice
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