muted 1 of 2

adjective

ˈmyü-təd How to pronounce muted (audio)
Definition of mutednext
1
as in quieted
mostly or entirely without sound the muted cry of a frightened witness to a murder

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2
as in subdued
not excessively showy painted with muted colors

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3
as in silent
deliberately refraining from speech she was unexpectedly muted in the presence of her literary idol

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muted

2 of 2

verb

past tense of mute
1
as in shushed
to stop the noise or speech of muted the television while she was on the phone

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2
as in muffled
to deaden the sound of closing the windows muted the traffic noise so we could get to sleep

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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 muted
Adjective
Even though Clinton’s remarks Saturday received muted response on cable news due to the heatwave and Trump’s excesses, online the former President deftly tapped into the shifts among Democrats for a more combative approach to curb MAGA. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 4 July 2026 Her bronzed makeup look consisted of taupe eyeshadow, black eyeliner, rosy cheeks, and a muted matte lip. — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 3 July 2026
Verb
Ayari scored twice in the team’s opener against Tunisia but muted his celebrations out of respect for his father’s home country. — ABC News, 19 June 2026 Without reparative justice, Juneteenth is muted, symbolic, but not transformative. — Marcus Anthony Hunter, Time, 19 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for muted
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muted
  1. silent
  2. subdued
  3. mute
  4. shushed
  5. muffled
  6. quiet
  7. restrained
  8. speechless
Adjective
  • Born Wong Liu Tsong on January 3, 1905, her career spanned both silent film and talkies.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 10 July 2026
  • Climate change will continue to exacerbate conflict long after the guns fall silent, with profound implications for human security, national stability, and international peace.
    — Sarah Yerkes, Time, 10 July 2026
Definition of silent
Adjective
  • The mash-fest seems to fit the streamer’s sweet spot of entertainment-heavy sporting events, though if anything, its presentation of the derby felt surprisingly subdued in comparison to past spectacles.
    — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 14 July 2026
  • Taking the stage before the subdued audience, Mexico’s Alonso Ruizpalacios acknowledged the collective disappointment by turning to Elizabeth Butcher’s poem One Art.
    — Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 8 July 2026
Definition of subdued
Adjective
  • The only person who knows Diego’s secret is Bernardo (Salvatore Ficarra), his mute manservant.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2026
  • Prior to being cast as Aang, Cormier received acclaim for his performance as mute child Joe in the TV miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s The Stand in 2020.
    — Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 27 June 2026
Definition of mute
Verb
  • As the moment unfolded, Savannah shushed the future king and even briefly placed her hand over his mouth in an effort to keep him composed.
    — Staff Author, InStyle, 13 June 2026
  • The Giants offense got shushed Wednesday night by Shohei Ohtani, and their hitters went down almost as quietly against right-hander Emmet Sheehan.
    — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 15 May 2026
Definition of shushed
Verb
  • Missing crucial orders because a voice is muffled, or struggling to pull out an emergency fire shelter because a mask is in the way, could be the difference between life and death.
    — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • Everything feels muffled, with such heavy carpeting.
    — Olivia Kan-Sperling, Artforum, 2 May 2026
Definition of muffled
Adjective
  • Imperial Street was eerily quiet on a recent Tuesday afternoon in the Arts District.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • Some combination of LeBron’s first move, the growth of Twitter and the development of morning sports talk shows desperate for conversation fodder helped the NBA turn the quietest sports month into a free agency frenzy.
    — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of quiet
Adjective
  • Expectations for Langford should still be in the restrained, cautiously optimistic category.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 July 2026
  • The famous curtains remain too, but in a more restrained way.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 July 2026
Definition of restrained
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of speechless

Browse Nearby Words

mute
muted
muteness
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Cite this Entry

“Muted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muted. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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