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
as in silence
incapacity for or restraint from speaking
we were baffled by his uncharacteristic muteness
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
Art De Roché, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Older iPhones have a physical mute switch in the upper left corner, and that’s still its default function.
—Larry Magid, Mercury News, 18 Sep. 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
Big Think, 13 Oct. 2025
Miami went into the half with momentum and with the sellout crow in Tallahassee muted.
—Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2025
Matteo Atti, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mute
Adjective
With a tactical view on mute or turning the volume up.
—Art De Roché, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Older iPhones have a physical mute switch in the upper left corner, and that’s still its default function.
—Larry Magid, Mercury News, 18 Sep. 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
Right now, the broader effects are relatively muted.
—Big Think, 13 Oct. 2025
Miami went into the half with momentum and with the sellout crow in Tallahassee muted.
—Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2025
Noun
Her media muteness gave her an icy cool, letting her work do the talking, both attributes that many luxury brands aspire to.
—Matteo Atti, Forbes.com, 11 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
-
That conversational access to the fine print not only saves keystrokes, but also reduces miscommunication, which is often the silent culprit behind change-order disputes and blown budgets.—
Jon Stojan,
USA Today,
21 Oct. 2025
-
And the whole class is just silent.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The best way to silence such talk is on the pitch.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
-
In a South Shore League matchup, Georgia Royston netted two goals as Cohasset silenced Carver 6-0.—
Tyler McManus,
Boston Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
To this end, Eckley planted hedges of Leyland cypress, which, at up to 16 feet tall, help provide privacy and muffle noise.—
Miranda Crowell,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Oct. 2025
-
The audio is muffled and at times difficult to discern.—
Lucien Bruggeman,
ABC News,
14 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
It was all suitably muted and understated.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
25 Oct. 2025
-
BeCalm is full of smart little touches that make life easier — think hidden pockets for your phone, buttery-soft fabrics that never cling, and muted tones that actually make getting dressed feel calming.—
Katie Ann Lehman,
StyleCaster,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In the clip, the then-6-year-old can be seen walking with his iPad to the next room and shushing everyone.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
-
The View has a long history of guests receiving sustained standing ovations — and Goldberg attempting to shush rowdy audience members.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Smith has yet to do what Moore did Saturday and come up with a win to quiet his critics.—
Austin Meek,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Missouri is chasing a rebound to keep its SEC title hopes alive, while Auburn and head coach Hugh Freeze are trying to quiet growing unrest.—
Zach Sweet,
Kansas City Star,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
His commentary is equally free of snobbery and of attempts to dumb anything down.—
David Denby,
New Yorker,
20 July 2025
-
Even in highly specialized sectors like aerospace and defense, the best stories don’t dumb things down.—
Heather Rosenow,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mute. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share