Synonyms of mute

mute 1 of 4

adjective

ˈmyüt 

1

as in speechless

unable to speak

the child is both deaf and mute because her hearing was lost at birth

Synonyms & Similar Words

• speechless
• silent
• voiceless
• inarticulate
• quiet
• reserved
• incomprehensible
• taciturn
• incoherent
• tongue-tied
• uncommunicative
• laconic
• reticent
• nonspeaking
• wordless
• mum
• closemouthed
• tight-lipped

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• vocal
• talkative
• communicative
• loquacious
• garrulous
• expansive
• chatty
• talky
• speaking
• gabby
• talking
• blabby
• articulate
• eloquent
• voluble
• fluent
• expatiating
• speaking out
• speaking up
• articulating

2

as in silent

deliberately refraining from speech

remained mute no matter how much we pleaded for an answer

Synonyms & Similar Words

• silent
• speechless
• muted
• mum
• wordless
• uncommunicative
• inarticulate
• voiceless
• nonvocal
• dumbstruck
• tongue-tied
• sulky
• sullen
• sulking

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• speaking
• communicative
• talking
• articulate
• eloquent
• voluble
• vocal
• fluent
• talkative
• well-spoken
• loquacious
• garrulous
• outspoken
• talky
• unreserved
• gabby
• glib
• facile
• silver-tongued
• smooth-tongued

mute

2 of 4

noun (1)

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

• quieter
• damper
• softener
• soft pedal
• muffler

mute

3 of 4

verb

1

as in to silence

to stop the noise or speech of

muted the television while she was on the phone

Synonyms & Similar Words

• silence
• shush
• quiet
• dumb
• hush
• settle
• still
• shut up
• extinguish
• quell
• squelch
• quieten

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stir
• agitate

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

• muffle
• stifle
• tone (down)
• soften
• pad
• insulate
• mellow
• soundproof
• subdue
• baffle
• dampen
• smother

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• increase
• unmuffle
• enhance
• amplify
• heighten
• deepen
• strengthen
• step up
• magnify
• boost

muteness

4 of 4

noun (2)

as in silence

incapacity for or restraint from speaking

we were baffled by his uncharacteristic muteness

Synonyms & Similar Words

• silence
• speechlessness
• stillness
• voicelessness
• inarticulateness
• reticence
• taciturnity
• inarticulacy
• reticency
• reserve

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• communication
• speaking
• talking
• eloquence
• fluency
• volubility
• loquacity
• talkativeness
• garrulousness
• loquaciousness
• verbosity
• wordiness
• chattiness
• talkiness
• windiness
• verboseness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of mute

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

Noun

Huffman turned his mute on and his camera off. — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 9 Mar. 2026

Gazes tangle, sound mutes, time bends. — Addie Citchens, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026

Verb

When Robert offers to help, Thom’s expression is curiously muted. — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026

Long-term climate change means that background ocean temperatures throughout the tropical oceans have climbed in recent decades, which can mute the signature of El Niño. — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026

Noun

Audrey Hudson, twenty-four, is a gifted battlefield surgeon who feigns muteness to comfort Carter Reynolds, a combat soldier deafened by an explosion. — Chang Che, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026

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