as in dampers
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
Relevance
1
2
as in muffles
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 mutes
Addie Citchens, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
On a recent afternoon, the pair of mutes roamed the tiered backyard.
—Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2026
The mutes, the dropouts, the sense that an idea had sprung from the artist’s chest, been scrambled into code, then reassembled in a fugue.
—Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 8 Dec. 2025
Detwiler mutes or turns off the bodycam a few times throughout the arrest.
—Lorena O’Neil, Rolling Stone, 2 Dec. 2025
Combined mode shows the total level for both inputs and mutes both at once.
—Phil Nickinson, PC Magazine, 11 Aug. 2025
Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2026
Robinson is the favorite to start, which would mean Towns sliding over to power forward, which mutes some of his offensive superpowers.
—New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
The host mutes everyone upon entry.
—PC Magazine, 17 Sep. 2025
Critics allege that Google’s dominance not only undermines traditional publishing revenues but mutes the diversity of online voices, accelerating the decline of the open, accessible web, just as Google admitted behind closed doors, in court.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
Gazes tangle, sound mutes, time bends.
—Addie Citchens, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
On a recent afternoon, the pair of mutes roamed the tiered backyard.
—Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2026
The mutes, the dropouts, the sense that an idea had sprung from the artist’s chest, been scrambled into code, then reassembled in a fugue.
—Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 8 Dec. 2025
Detwiler mutes or turns off the bodycam a few times throughout the arrest.
—Lorena O’Neil, Rolling Stone, 2 Dec. 2025
Combined mode shows the total level for both inputs and mutes both at once.
—Phil Nickinson, PC Magazine, 11 Aug. 2025
Verb
Canned water chestnuts are blanched before packing, which mutes their flavor slightly but preserves their crispness.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2026
Robinson is the favorite to start, which would mean Towns sliding over to power forward, which mutes some of his offensive superpowers.
—New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
The host mutes everyone upon entry.
—PC Magazine, 17 Sep. 2025
Critics allege that Google’s dominance not only undermines traditional publishing revenues but mutes the diversity of online voices, accelerating the decline of the open, accessible web, just as Google admitted behind closed doors, in court.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mutes
Noun
-
Fireplace downdrafts are often caused by open dampers, leaky dampers, and pressure imbalances.—
Kamron Sanders,
The Spruce,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Handling has been sharpened by rigidly mounting the rear subframe and reworking the Bilstein dampers.—
Basem Wasef,
Robb Report,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Allison’s chilling prophecy about Kyle silences the table, quickly shifting the mood.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Feb. 2026
-
There are high hopes for US biotech company Scribe Therapeutics' STX-1150 treatment, which epigenetically silences the PCSK9 gene in the liver to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C).—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Although the snow sometimes muffles the thunder, the lightning can be seen, said meteorologist Grant Gilmore, formerly of WFMY-TV in Greensboro, North Carolina.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
25 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Toward the end of 2026’s Sparkling Wine & Oyster Celebration, when the last oyster is gone and the sparkling wine has softened to its final fizz, the barn at Campovida quiets enough to hear winter wind moving through the rafters.—
Audrey T. Williams,
Mercury News,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Add in ice cubes one at a time, and turn off the unit when the loud grinding quiets, after just a few seconds.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The top itself is an eight-layer cloth construction that satisfyingly hushes the cabin when raised.—
Brett Berk,
Robb Report,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Autumn hushes the Codrii forest, where mushrooms push through damp soil and the air smells of woodsmoke and moss.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
When that piece settles, Annacone believes the ceiling could be extremely high.—
Douglas Robson,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Remember, soil settles over time.—
Daniel Scott,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mutes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mutes. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
