Definition of mutenext

mute

2 of 3

noun

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

mute

3 of 3

verb

1
as in to silence
to stop the noise or speech of muted the television while she was on the phone

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mute
Adjective
Equipped with the master sword and the Hylian Shield straight out the video game, Rosenauer tried to stay mute just like his character. — Rashad Alexander august 31, Kansas City Star, 31 Aug. 2026 His mute misadventures are the purest expression of animation’s freedom to do and draw anything. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Noun
Huffman turned his mute on and his camera off. — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 9 Mar. 2026 Gazes tangle, sound mutes, time bends. — Addie Citchens, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
Verb
Contrast between adjacent elements is muted, so nothing leads the eye. — Lorenzo Alvaro, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026 So far, Trump’s response to the hike has been muted, at least by his standards. — Cameron Peters, Vox, 16 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mute
Adjective
  • By the end, the audience is left almost speechless — and still thinking about this singular, deeply original performance long after Lyons has left the stage.
    — Rebecca Rosman, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026
  • His friends, from brother Luigi (Charlie Day) to Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) veer in a similar direction, somehow coming across less fully formed and three-dimensional than their nearly speechless inspirations from Nintendo‘s flagship franchise.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Confession has also been a way for artists to seize authority from systems that preferred them silent, decorative, or safely explained.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Each signature shoe was made the silent main character of a short movie.
    — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • This Dodge Charger reboot in Scat Pack form isn’t a cush highway cruiser, but the adaptive dampers keep it from getting skittish over broken Midwest pavement.
    — Joel Feder, The Drive, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Fang Cheng Bao Meanwhile, the DiSus-M (Magnetorheological Fluid Damping System) uses magnetorheological (MR) fluid dampers instead of air chambers.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 23 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Becoming defensive or dismissive or trying to silence the conversation can turn a limited issue into a question of integrity.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Hannah Einbinder’s voice has not been silenced since her arrest for protesting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York City on Thursday.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Attempts to muffle creative voices through bullying and strong-arm tactics are fundamentally anti-American and have become all too common in recent years.
    — Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2026
  • After two hours of practice, with the 10-foot-tall fences doing little to muffle the bullhorn orders and corresponding groans, the huddle broke and the personalities sprung to life.
    — Noah White, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Middleton paired her blazer with muted pieces in cocoa — a set of trousers and a round neck jumper by British contemporary designer brand Joseph.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026
  • So, why are fuel costs so high while the global oil benchmark remains relatively muted (though still high by historical standards) at just over $100 per barrel?
    — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Tom Kim and Si Woo Kim went to 3-0 for the week with a crowd-shushing rally from 2 down to a 2-and-1 victory over Collin Morikawa and Wyndham Clark.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026
  • His interactions with Daemon (Matt Smith) last season, going so far as to shush him at one point, were a breath of fresh air.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • But those fears are quieted now, and nothing new seems to be brewing yet.
    — Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 21 Sep. 2026
  • The Colorado players were the ones who were quieted as the game wore on and became a blowout.
    — Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Mute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mute. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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