to put silence to and variants: to refute, confound, or disprove completely; to defeat in argument; to prohibit or prevent from speaking. Now…

To refute, confound, disprove (a person or a person's argument, opinion, remark, etc.) completely; to defeat in argument; to resolve (a matter)…

figurative. To overthrow or refute completely.

transitive. To cause or compel (a person) to cease speaking or making noise on a particular occasion; to cause to become silent. Also figurative.

To cause (a person, organization, etc.) to stop speaking or communicating; spec. to render (a person) speechless with emotion, shock, etc…

transitive. To reveal or expose the true nature of (a thing appearing to be something else); to discredit or disprove (an opinion, theory, or myth).

To get the better of. Obsolete.

transitive. To defeat or get the better of in argument.

transitive. To overturn, invalidate completely (an idea, theory, etc.).

To compel to cease from opposition or annoyance; to silence, nonplus.

figurative (esp. in political contexts).

transitive. To destroy utterly; = explode, v. 3. Obsolete. rare.

transitive. To batter or destroy (a person or thing); to ruin; to confound, stymie.