mute 1 of 3

adjective

ˈmyüt How to pronounce mute (audio)
Definition of mutenext
1
as in speechless
unable to speak the child is both deaf and mute because her hearing was lost at birth

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

mute

2 of 3

noun

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

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mute

3 of 3

verb

1
as in to silence
to stop the noise or speech of muted the television while she was on the phone

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to muffle
to deaden the sound of closing the windows muted the traffic noise so we could get to sleep

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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
Adjective
Fauci sat mute as Johnson described adverse health effects from COVID-19 vaccines and the efficacy of ivermectin to treat the virus. — Bart Jansen, USA Today, 29 July 2026 The microphone boom has a mute LED and can rotate through 270 degrees, enabling the headset to be worn with the microphone boom arm on the left or the right side. — Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 26 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
You may like Notifications will be muted between midnight and 6am and between 8am and 3pm on school days. — Chas Newkey-Burden, TheWeek, 28 Aug. 2026 Skin is left textured, lips are muted or blurred and eyeliner is intentionally softened. — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mute
  1. speechless
  2. silent
  3. damper
  4. silence
  5. muffle
  6. muted
  7. shush
  8. quiet
Adjective
  • By the end, the audience is left almost speechless — and still thinking about this singular, deeply original performance long after Lyons has left the stage.
    — Rebecca Rosman, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026
  • His friends, from brother Luigi (Charlie Day) to Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) veer in a similar direction, somehow coming across less fully formed and three-dimensional than their nearly speechless inspirations from Nintendo‘s flagship franchise.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 31 Mar. 2026
Definition of speechless
Adjective
  • Advocates argue carts are silent, occupy less space than tourist vans and buses, and don’t choke the air with exhaust that also stains historic monuments.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The South wasn't in a laughing mood after the Civil War, so silent film star and comedian Buster Keaton went west.
    — Brian Bull, NPR, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of silent
Noun
  • The twin-valve dampers and air suspension have been recalibrated in Touring, Bentley, and Sport modes.
    — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The problem is that W tends to put a significant damper on gatherings.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of damper
Verb
  • El-Sayed’s fellow Democrats are not trying to silence or punish Piker.
    — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The expressions of dissent were silenced with unspeakable violence.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of silence
Verb
  • Polite, slightly puzzling debates over the merits of using concrete in Africa muffle the period’s scalding passions and incandescent dreams.
    — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The actress wears a toasty-looking fur hat and sits cross-legged on the floor, the Canadian road traffic muffling her voice slightly.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of muffle
Adjective
  • Overnight, the British market's reaction to Keir Starmer's resignation remained relatively muted.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Featuring warm neutrals, earthy tones, muted pinks, clay hues, and airy blues, the palette includes shades inspired by nature—from sandy beaches to golden autumn leaves.
    — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of muted
Verb
  • His interactions with Daemon (Matt Smith) last season, going so far as to shush him at one point, were a breath of fresh air.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • As the moment unfolded, Savannah shushed the future king and even briefly placed her hand over his mouth in an effort to keep him composed.
    — Staff Author, InStyle, 13 June 2026
Definition of shush
Verb
  • Even if the political discussion on climate change has quieted, the planet has not.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Boos or not, the new GM has to decide on the best course of action for the present and future of the franchise, not just the one that quiets things down the quickest.
    — Max Bultman, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of quiet

Browse Nearby Words

mutations
mute
muted
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Cite this Entry

“Mute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mute. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on mute

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mute

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