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
Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2025
Seven-year-olds — a species rarely short of words — nearly went mute in his gravity.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 17 Aug. 2025
Chris Smith, BGR, 18 May 2022
Aminatta had come to Kissy from a crowded low-income neighborhood in the city, mute and immobile with a depression that had never been treated.
—New York Times, 11 Apr. 2022
John Drake, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
British music fest apologizes to Irish folk band The Mary Wallopers claim they were muted during their set for waving a flag, a move that angered the audience.
—Jade Walker, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mute
Adjective
In the book, the character of Kenny is actually quite mute in a way.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2025
Seven-year-olds — a species rarely short of words — nearly went mute in his gravity.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 17 Aug. 2025
Noun
Other nice-to-have features include some ruggedness in the design, so the phone doesn’t need a case, IP68 water, and dust resistance, a hardware mute switch, and eSIM support.
—Chris Smith, BGR, 18 May 2022
Aminatta had come to Kissy from a crowded low-income neighborhood in the city, mute and immobile with a depression that had never been treated.
—New York Times, 11 Apr. 2022
Verb
So far, the response has been strikingly muted given the eminence of the signatories.
—John Drake, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
British music fest apologizes to Irish folk band The Mary Wallopers claim they were muted during their set for waving a flag, a move that angered the audience.
—Jade Walker, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2025
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
-
Houston Astros ace Framber Valdez appears destined for free agency as contract talks are reportedly completely silent.—
Drew VonScio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
-
As foreign dignitaries descend in Beijing this week, the conflicting narratives on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are a reminder that eight decades after Japan's surrender, the guns may be silent, but the battle over the legacy of the war is far from over.—
Jan Camenzind Broomby,
NPR,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This is the product of past administrations, Republican and Democrat, trying to silence victims.—
Khaleda Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Those moments can silence curiosity and leaders might have no idea that the impact has come from past experiences.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Wind and road noise were nicely muted with the top up, and thanks to the 911’s sleek figure and retracting wind deflector—which doesn’t automatically deploy, thankfully—wind noise was impressively muffled at highway pace.—
Peter Nelson,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
-
The arms would go into the sleeves and for a moment their head and face were muffled in the garment.—
Rachel Cusk,
New Yorker,
24 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
That’s not the kind of hold that the mid-budget neo noir was depending on after a muted opening.—
J. Kim Murphy,
Variety,
6 Sep. 2025
-
The dresses, in muted shades ranging from pale pink to pearl gray, cream and black, contrast layers of vaporous tulle and organza with long ruffled skirts and collared capes in satin or taffeta edged with lace.—
Joelle Diderich,
Footwear News,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The one major slight that really puts a significant damper on things was the Jake Walman trade.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
New York Times,
20 Aug. 2025
-
Baltimore’s heat index could reach the triple digits under sunny skies on Sunday before some cooler, damper air along with storms roll in to start the work week.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
17 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Jena asked, for which she was shushed), that was spotted and strong enough to kill a man.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Aug. 2025
-
In the background of the video, the 35-year-old could be heard mumbling offscreen before Megan playfully shushed him.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
14 July 2025
Verb
-
In the run game, starting running back Javonte Williams quieted durability concerns with a healthy effort that included two rushing touchdowns on the first two drives.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Arch Manning #16 of the Texas Longhorns motions to quiet the crowd in the fourth quarter against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 24, 2023 in Austin, Texas.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mute. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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