silenced
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to silence someone
To prevent someone from freely expressing their opinion or criticizing something, often through intimidation, censorship, or threats.
Das Regime versuchte, die kritischen Journalisten mundtot zu machen.
The regime tried to silence the critical journalists.
silenced
The state in which someone has been prevented from freely expressing their opinion.
Nach den Repressalien war die Opposition praktisch mundtot.
After the reprisals, the opposition was practically silenced.
The word is a figurative compound made up of 'Mund' (mouth) and 'tot' (dead). So it describes the state in which a person's mouth has been made 'dead', meaning they can no longer speak or express their opinion.
Durch Zensur wurden kritische Stimmen mundtot gemacht.
Critical voices were silenced through censorship.
The adjective 'mundtot' (silenced) is almost always used predicatively, that is, together with verbs like 'sein' (to be) or 'machen' (to make). Using it directly before a noun (attributively) is very rare.
Die Presse in diesem Land ist leider mundtot.
The press in this country is unfortunately silenced.
The most common use is the fixed expression 'jemanden mundtot machen' (to silence someone). The person who is being silenced is always in the accusative.
Die Regierung versuchte, die Opposition mundtot zu machen.
The government tried to silence the opposition.
mute / silent
Stumm and mundtot can both describe a person who says nothing. Mundtot specifically refers to a state in which someone cannot freely express their opinion or criticism, for example because of intimidation or threats. Stumm, by contrast, only describes not speaking and does not specify the reason.
Nach den Drohungen war der Aktivist mundtot und konnte seine Kritik nicht mehr frei äußern.
After the threats, the activist had been silenced and could no longer express their criticism freely.
Nach der Drohung blieb der Aktivist stumm und sagte bei der Sitzung nichts.
After the threat, the activist remained silent and said nothing during the meeting.
