1
as in quieted
mostly or entirely without sound
the muted cry of a frightened witness to a murder
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in subdued
not excessively showy
painted with muted colors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in silent
deliberately refraining from speech
she was unexpectedly muted in the presence of her literary idol
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in muffled
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 muted
Cori Sears, The Spruce, 13 May 2026
Uptake for the drugs, Leqembi and Kisunla, has been so muted that Medicare is not forecasting significant spending on them in 2026 or 2027, a spokesperson for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services told STAT.
—Bob Herman, STAT, 11 May 2026
Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 13 May 2026
Warmer, muted, and mid-toned shades are low-maintenance options that keep your home looking polished.
—Asia London Palomba, The Spruce, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for muted
Adjective
In fact, Faded Petal, a muted, blush-gray hue, was named as Garden Media Group’s 2026 Color of the Year.
—Cori Sears, The Spruce, 13 May 2026
Uptake for the drugs, Leqembi and Kisunla, has been so muted that Medicare is not forecasting significant spending on them in 2026 or 2027, a spokesperson for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services told STAT.
—Bob Herman, STAT, 11 May 2026
Verb
The actors’ muted facial responses reflect the inner struggles in untenable circumstances of these young lives.
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 13 May 2026
Warmer, muted, and mid-toned shades are low-maintenance options that keep your home looking polished.
—Asia London Palomba, The Spruce, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for muted
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muted
Adjective
-
The response was more subdued when, in the fourth round, the San Francisco 49ers selected Prysock.—
Dan Greene,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
As the United States has escalated its attacks on Iran, there’s something pleasingly transgressive about bringing Iranian elements into such overtly Western music—so much so that the songs without Yaghmai’s playing seem a little subdued in comparison.—
Molly Mary O’Brien,
Pitchfork,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
Misael eating meat alone, cutting up pieces with an enormous knife while barely lit by the flames in front of him, and, sporadically, almost-silent lightning bursts in the distant background.—
Vadim Rizov,
IndieWire,
16 May 2026
-
My cancer was so silent that two gynecologists hadn’t considered it as a possible diagnosis, and at least one radiologist had entirely missed my tumor—as wide as a peach and as long as my hand.—
Nami Mun,
The Atlantic,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
To the point where Reid shushed him down at times.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Lyonne shushed the staffer, got up and headed to the bathroom, according to Page Six.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Everything feels muffled, with such heavy carpeting.—
Olivia Kan-Sperling,
Artforum,
2 May 2026
-
Their replies are muffled by their hands blocking their mouths.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Biltmore is polished, quiet, and—despite its size—manages not to feel at all intimidating.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 May 2026
-
My occupations have given me a happy, humble, quiet life, but always nagging in the back of my mind has been a case of impostor syndrome.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
Puerto Rican rum production emphasizes column distillation and filtration, yielding a cleaner, lighter, and more restrained profile than many heavier Caribbean styles.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
-
It was described by critics as psychologically uneasy and emotionally claustrophobic, with Keough serving as the restrained emotional center of the film.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
That strong start ended against the Rangers, as Cabrera (3-1) allowed five runs on seven hits over five innings in his worst outing of the season, and the Cubs offense was on mute.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
Three recent preprint papers that arrived within weeks of one another probe the possibility that dark matter is not a mute backdrop but an active participant in cosmic physics.—
Paul M. Sutter,
Scientific American,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
The country will be safer when scientific institutions can do their work free from political interference, and less safe every time they are silenced to serve those in power.—
A.J. Russo,
Baltimore Sun,
13 May 2026
-
The promises of jobs and tax money didn’t soothe the vocal crowd that had to be silenced several times by Gary Board of Zoning Appeals president Rinzer Williams.—
Carole Carlson,
Chicago Tribune,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Muted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muted. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
