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
Rumors about the couple dating began to surface in 2024 prior to the Paris Olympic games but both athletes have been mute about the status of their relationship until now. — Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 20 Feb. 2025 While Apple has brought over the Action Button from the higher-end iPhones—this user-customizable button replaced the mute switch and debuted on the iPhone 15 Pro—the 16e is missing the Camera Control button found on those flagship devices. — Julian Chokkattu, WIRED, 19 Feb. 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
Deutsche Bank Research economist Sebastian Becker on Friday described the lower core inflation reading as positive and noted that the print is expected to keep falling as wage growth eases and the broader economy remains muted. — Sophie Kiderlin, CNBC, 28 Feb. 2025 Congressional Republicans’ responses to Trump’s outrageous comments were largely muted even as a few senators like Thom Tillis came out forcefully in defense of Ukraine and against Vladimir Putin. — Mordechai Gordon, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mute
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mute
  1. speechless
  2. silent
  3. silence
  4. muffle
  5. damper
  6. shush
  7. quiet
  8. dumb
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
Definition of speechless
Adjective
  • After several minutes the second officer came and, again, Pike kept silent.
    — PJ Green, Kansas City Star, 20 Mar. 2025
  • The event will also include silent and live auctions, delicious food and drink, and joyous community, according to a news release.
    — Encinitas Advocate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of silent
Verb
  • Now, Homan’s administration wants to use the awesome powers of the federal law enforcement apparatus to intimidate and silence those who disagree with their policy agenda.
    — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 13 Mar. 2025
  • While Politkovskaya was ultimately silenced, her legacy lives on and her story serves as a reminder of the dangers that journalists face and the importance of protecting their right to report the news, without fear of death or reprisal.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of silence
Verb
  • Don’t: Rely on Just a Sleep Mask Instead: Use Reusable Ear Plugs, Too $29 at Amazon For anyone who needs silence to fall asleep, Young recommends packing a pair of ear plugs to muffle any distracting noises.
    — Rylee Johnston, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2025
  • The suspect cut into the lock just as a train entered the station to muffle the sound, the video shows.
    — Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 14 Feb. 2025
Definition of muffle
Noun
  • The anti-dive effect of that front suspension is quite noticeable under braking, and in either Normal or Sport mode, the damper settings are well-calibrated for bumpy back roads.
    — Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 29 Jan. 2025
  • The front suspension uses unequal-length wishbones with coil-over dampers, and the car has a coil-spring live-rear axle.
    — Robert Ross, Robb Report, 21 Feb. 2025
Definition of damper
Verb
  • In his 2023 address, President Joe Biden was repeatedly met with heckles and boos from some Republican lawmakers, leading then House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to shush them, according to CNN.
    — Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2025
  • Duke did things to Illinois on Saturday at Madison Square Garden, in a 110-67 eyeful that wasn’t as close as the final score, to shush talk of a weak ACC potentially costing Cooper and the fighting Flaggs a No. 1 seed.
    — Joe Rexrode, The Athletic, 25 Feb. 2025
Definition of shush
Verb
  • This philosophy has inspired wellness practitioners precisely because there is no better way to quiet our minds and appreciate the small pleasures of life than to pause and observe nature each day.
    — Ana Morales, Vogue, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Listen More and Then Listen More: Listening requires leaders to manage their own mental chatter, quiet their judgement, and choose to be curious.
    — Ellen Choi, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of quiet
Verb
  • Where conspiracies dumb us down to eventually believe that nothing is actually true?
    — S.E. Cupp, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2025
  • In order to save time, space, or money, audio companies will often take the design of a larger, more expensive device and dumb it down slightly to make a product that's more accessible, and probably better for most of us.
    — Parker Hall, WIRED, 6 May 2021
Definition of dumb

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Cite this Entry

“Mute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mute. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on mute

Nglish: Translation of mute for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mute

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