1
as in speechless
unable to speak
the child is both deaf and mute because her hearing was lost at birth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in silent
deliberately refraining from speech
remained mute no matter how much we pleaded for an answer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in quieter
a device on a musical instrument that deadens or softens its tone
I was practicing my trumpet at three in the morning when the mute fell out, and I managed to wake everyone up
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
2
as in to muffle
to deaden the sound of
closing the windows muted the traffic noise so we could get to sleep
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of mute
Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 14 Nov. 2025
Getting tired of of the mute button, no romo.
—Andrew McCarty, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2025
Vulture, 12 Dec. 2022
After accidentally starting a wildfire, 7-year-old Lu, mute and from an abusive home, slyly tricks Merribelle, a hardworking trans woman, into kidnapping her – sparking a beautifully unexpected bond with a devastating expiration date.
—Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Dec. 2022
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Jan. 2026
Why this energy remains gravitationally muted still mystifies physicists.
—George Musser, Quanta Magazine, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mute
Adjective
Nintendo has learned that the bounty hunter’s most affecting personality trait is remaining a mute goliath who handles nuisances — from chatty scientists to roaring monsters — with annoyed nonchalance.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 14 Nov. 2025
Getting tired of of the mute button, no romo.
—Andrew McCarty, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Nov. 2025
Noun
After accidentally starting a wildfire, 7-year-old Lu, mute and from an abusive home, slyly tricks Merribelle, a hardworking trans woman, into kidnapping her — sparking a beautifully unexpected bond with a devastating expiration date.
—Vulture, 12 Dec. 2022
After accidentally starting a wildfire, 7-year-old Lu, mute and from an abusive home, slyly tricks Merribelle, a hardworking trans woman, into kidnapping her – sparking a beautifully unexpected bond with a devastating expiration date.
—Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Dec. 2022
Verb
The 163-inch display introduces an industry-first four-primary RGBY MicroLED architecture, adding yellow to address a spectral gap between 500 and 600 nanometers that can mute color fidelity in conventional MicroLED panels.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 5 Jan. 2026
Why this energy remains gravitationally muted still mystifies physicists.
—George Musser, Quanta Magazine, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mute
Adjective
-
In helicopter video taken by Air Maui Helicopter Tours in Lahaina and posted online the people aboard are largely speechless.—
Phil Helsel,
NBC News,
10 Aug. 2023
-
Because his work, as is often the case, leaves us almost speechless.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Jan. 2023
Adjective
-
As Jaclyn and Kate wax poetic about a dream vacation that never happened, Laurie’s weary, silent glances seem to tee up an explosive confrontation.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Tisdale refused to stay silent, and texted the group after being left behind on another plan.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Do not let the voices of my courageous compatriots be silenced.—
Tucker Reals,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Dan Piper, a teacher who spoke at the vigil, told those gathered that the federal officials are hoping to silence dissent.—
Laura Tillman,
Hartford Courant,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
This can be countered with skewed propeller blades to distribute pressure evenly, pump jets where a rotor is set inside a shroud to muffle noises, or low-RPM, high-torque designs to cut down on vibrations.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
7 Dec. 2025
-
Although the snow sometimes muffles the thunder, the lightning can be seen, said meteorologist Grant Gilmore, formerly of WFMY-TV in Greensboro, North Carolina.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
25 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
People often make the mistake of going with a bright white paint color to balance out a room’s cool feel and muted light, but opting for a warm neutral is more effective for creating an inviting space.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Color choices mimic those of the terrain, all soft greens, light grays, and muted taupes.—
Kristine Thomason,
Outside,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Witnesses reported a loud explosion and saw sparks and flames as the jet went overboard, while below deck, the crosshead ejected from the sheave damper, ‘spinning like the Tasmanian devil’ in what was described as an ‘entirely preventable’ mishap, according to USNI.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Dec. 2025
-
Manual dampers can also be used to regulate airflow.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
5 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
After once rising from her seat to scold a man recording the broadcast on his phone to shushing in-studio viewers during an interview with Zohran Mamdani, Whoopi Goldberg just wrote another chapter in her comical relationship with The View's studio audience.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Jan. 2026
-
That shush in the art dealership was loud.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
19 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Maybe the mad dash to tariffs will be quieted some this year, only to be replaced by geopolitical turmoil, greatly impacting trade, and domestic economic chaos egged on by migrant raids, unemployment, affordability, Social Security, inflation and national debt.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
-
There are birds, their songs and calls rising to the surface when the traffic quiets.—
Emily Brindley,
Dallas Morning News,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mute. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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