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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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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 muted
Adjective
That muted response is in keeping with the film’s blasé attitude toward our tech-heavy world. — Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2026 Smudging with fingers and tissue paper creates shadows and muted tones. — ABC News, 24 July 2026
Verb
Shadows will soften, colors will become muted, and daylight will take on an unusual quality that many first-time eclipse watchers find surprising. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 14 July 2026 As traffic in the strait remains muted, at least 15 commercial vessels transited the waterway in the past 24 hours, according to MarineTraffic data. — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 11 July 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
  • The oversized teeth of the character were originally to be used only during silent scenes, but Carrey learned to talk with them on to make his character even more cartoon-like.
    — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2026
  • School is meant to prepare students for the real world, but too many institutions are training kids to be silent.
    — Annabelle Garland, The Atlantic, 23 July 2026
Definition of silent
Adjective
  • Without them, some would feel even bigger, more raw and dramatic, but others — especially in America, where many neutrals came specifically for the spectacle rather than for either team — could feel subdued and forgotten.
    — Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • Obviously, the talking-points from Kiffin will be interesting to monitor, though the Tigers head coach seems to be more subdued in person compared to his social media presence.
    — Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of subdued
Adjective
  • The film centers on Wang Wei (Miao), a mysterious mute tradesman who is forced into a violent underworld after his daughter is kidnapped by a Southeast Asian child trafficking syndicate.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 22 July 2026
  • Even Athena, if that genuinely is whom Zendaya is playing, isn’t that helpful, mostly staring at Odysseus in mute dismay.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 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
  • Xavi Simons was born in Amsterdam but grew up in the quiet village of Rojales in Alicante.
    — Jay Harris, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • Home Depot is poised to benefit from a quiet home renovation boom, driven by high mortgage rates and aging homes, boasting strong free cash flow and a 238% dividend hike.
    — Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of quiet
Adjective
  • Where Heron feels restrained and almost surgical, Hornbill is shaped for users who want more contact with the handle, more leverage through the cut, and a stronger physical presence without moving into oversized tactical-knife territory.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 21 July 2026
  • Drewchin operates in this more restrained mode throughout the record, peeling back the layers of her dizzying art pop.
    — Colin Joyce, Pitchfork, 20 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 29 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of muted for Spanish Speakers

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