Novel adaptive silencing schemes for device-to-device (D2D) discovery based on loading conditions in a discovery zone are disclosed herein. These adaptive silencing schemes can be used to mitigate interference and data collisions in networks where D2D connections can be formed. In some embodiments, a silencing factor is used to probabilistically determine whether a user equipment (UE) will transmit one or more D2D discovery signals in the discovery zone. Loading conditions in a current discovery zone can be estimated using several different approaches and metrics described herein. The silencing factor can be increased or decreased for a subsequent discovery zone based on the values of one or more of the metrics described herein for the current discovery zone.