The preposition to can express a possessive relationship. Where is the key to this lock? The key that belongs to or belongs with this lock. In your sentence, to works well because "couples" are entities, as a lock is an entity. The silence is "theirs" to share. It is not an intrinsic characteristic of them. We use inherent in when referring to intrinsic characteristics of situations more ...
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Grain bins, silos and silage piles can be potentially dangerous areas to work on farms. Farmers can reduce the potential danger by wearing a safety harness and using a ...
I prefer "inherent to" on the grounds that both the form and the meaning of the adjective "inherent" include the notion of interiority, so the preposition "in" feels redundant.
I've always used "inherent" and "intrinsic" interchangeably. Dictionary.com doesn't offer much help in distinguishing them.
inherent: existing in something as a permanent and inseparable element. intrinsic: belonging to the thing by its very nature. Are these the same? Are they interchangeable? I was debating with myself as to the proper usage in: They debated the inherent dangers of materialism. Would this be better? They debated the dangers intrinsic in materialism.
An inherent feature or attribute is integral to the thing. For example, if a medicine can lower cholesterol by virtue of its chemical composition, "ability to lower cholesterol" is one of its inherent benefits. But if the medicine simply gives the person energy to exercise, and it is the exercise that is lowering the cholesterol, "ability to lower cholesterol" would not be an inherent benefit ...