1
as in speechless
unable to speak
the child is both deaf and mute because her hearing was lost at birth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mute
Jibin Joseph, PCMAG, 11 Mar. 2025
But screenwriter Jared Rosenberg puts him on mute about a third of the way through and that leaves us stranded with Madelyn (Dockery) and Winston (Grace), two one-dimensional bores.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 29 Jan. 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
Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025
The lawsuit says San Diego Central Jail staff have routinely violated the facility’s policies by ignoring or muting intercom calls.
—Julia Marnin, Sacramento Bee, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mute
Adjective
Bluesky has also added a quicker way to mute accounts.
—Jibin Joseph, PCMAG, 11 Mar. 2025
But screenwriter Jared Rosenberg puts him on mute about a third of the way through and that leaves us stranded with Madelyn (Dockery) and Winston (Grace), two one-dimensional bores.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 29 Jan. 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
While the event generated significant online discussion and participation from some consumer groups, the data suggests its impact on major corporations was muted.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025
The lawsuit says San Diego Central Jail staff have routinely violated the facility’s policies by ignoring or muting intercom calls.
—Julia Marnin, Sacramento Bee, 25 Feb. 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
-
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
Verb
-
Swalwell says fear of retribution and violence silences others in Congress, including Republicans.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2025
-
Sean Brady silenced all but the biggest naysayers on Saturday, defeating former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards in the main event of UFC London.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
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
Noun
-
Cadillac's marketing materials highlight both the luxury and sporty spirit of this crossover, and the shock dampers needed to live up to those somewhat divergent goals.—
Michael Teo Van Runkle,
Ars Technica,
24 Mar. 2025
-
Despite having stiffer springs versus the MC20, the car offers a ride quality that remains pleasingly supple through retuned Bilstein adaptive dampers, even in sportier drive modes.—
Lawrence Ulrich,
Robb Report,
4 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Fathers shushed babbling toddlers as their wives snuck out to change infants’ diapers.—
Carlos Nogueras Ramos,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2025
-
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
Verb
-
The jeremiads against gambling as a corrupting influence have conveniently quieted.—
Made by History,
TIME,
20 Mar. 2025
-
Talk about a potential settlement, which has been discussed internally, has now quieted as CBS seems willing to fight it out, even as the FCC reviews parent company Paramount’s sale to Skydance and Carr is likely to seek concessions.—
Steven Zeitchik,
The Hollywood Reporter,
19 Mar. 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
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Mute.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mute. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
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