1
as in speechless
unable to speak
the child is both deaf and mute because her hearing was lost at birth
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of mute
Max Lakin, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
Snow White’s empathetic friendship with the apparently mute Dopey works like a charm, which compensates for the general comic unfunniness of the dwarfs chaos.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025
Washington Post, 29 Sep. 2021
Lenin, too, suffered from manic rage and erratic behavior, and died in his early fifties confined to a wheelchair after multiple strokes left him mute and paralyzed.
—Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 1 Apr. 2016
Justin Davidson, Curbed, 18 Apr. 2025
Yield moves were largely muted following their recent spell of volatility spurred by tariffs.
—Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mute
Adjective
There was an overlapping interest in language; despite being neither deaf nor mute, Wong learned and practiced American Sign Language.
—Max Lakin, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
Snow White’s empathetic friendship with the apparently mute Dopey works like a charm, which compensates for the general comic unfunniness of the dwarfs chaos.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025
Noun
Idealizing the beauty of the bucolic landscape often minimizes the labor tied to it, and so Yu disrupts any sense of the natural world as mute and pleasant.
—Washington Post, 29 Sep. 2021
Lenin, too, suffered from manic rage and erratic behavior, and died in his early fifties confined to a wheelchair after multiple strokes left him mute and paralyzed.
—Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 1 Apr. 2016
Verb
Whatever should be done today can wait until next year, by which time rising costs and the fear of opposition will have muted the project’s aspirations.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 18 Apr. 2025
Yield moves were largely muted following their recent spell of volatility spurred by tariffs.
—Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 17 Apr. 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
-
But that learning curve can be steep, isolating and — too often — silent.—
Yolanda Wiggins,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2025
-
The trick now is knowing where to go and which Muay Thai boxing schools, silent monasteries, or health spas to choose.—
Lee Cobaj,
Robb Report,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
In the past, survivors have been silenced or discouraged by a system that often sided with abusers.—
Ali Martin,
Christian Science Monitor,
29 Apr. 2025
-
Trump, through his onslaught of executive orders, wants to see the adversaries silenced.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
In Nashville, Tennessee, city officials passed ordinances aimed at muffling extremist activity after more frequent demonstrations by such groups, including an instance in July when demonstrators rushed the council chambers, forcing closure of the gallery.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA TODAY,
18 Feb. 2025
-
The blustery winds muffled the clank of wheels and thud of hooves.—
Andrew Lawler,
Smithsonian Magazine,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
One day at the Scottish Open, a volunteer held up the quiet sign and shushed the crowd as Morikawa prepared to hit from the fairway.—
Brody Miller,
The Athletic,
6 Jan. 2025
-
Fathers shushed babbling toddlers as their wives snuck out to change infants’ diapers.—
Carlos Nogueras Ramos,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The guys in little old Baltimore were quieting the big guns in New York and Boston.—
Julian Baron,
Baltimore Sun,
29 Apr. 2025
-
Winning Game 5 on Tuesday at home would quiet a lot of doubters.—
James Mirtle,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Where conspiracies dumb us down to eventually believe that nothing is actually true?—
S.E. Cupp,
New York Daily News,
4 Feb. 2025
-
To dumb it down, think about how action figures of the past had limited points of articulation.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
11 Sep. 2024
Verb
-
Switching between phone and laptop is smooth with multipoint Bluetooth, and ANC hushes office hum without hammering battery life.—
Shubham Yewale,
PC Magazine,
25 Apr. 2025
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The setting is hushed and sun-drenched, with floor-to-ceiling views of the lake and gardens.—
Rai Mincey,
Forbes.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mute. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
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