MUTED Synonyms: 157 Similar and Opposite Words

muted 1 of 2

adjective

ˈmyü-təd

Definition of muted

as in quieted

mostly or entirely without sound the muted cry of a frightened witness to a murder

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in subdued

not excessively showy painted with muted colors

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in silent

deliberately refraining from speech she was unexpectedly muted in the presence of her literary idol

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

muted

2 of 2

verb

past tense of mute

as in shushed

to stop the noise or speech of muted the television while she was on the phone

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in muffled

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 muted

Adjective

The Cleo silhouette comes in eight total colorways, with some styles leaning more vibrant, while others are more wearable and muted. — Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 18 Oct. 2026 To revamp your next Sunday roast, try this muted blue opal dinner set, a collaboration between the Ark Elements and Laboratorio Paravicini. — Air Mail, 17 Oct. 2026

Verb

And olive undertones should look for olive, golden olive, or muted golden shades. — Audrey Noble, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2026 While censors didn’t catch the F-bomb on the live broadcast and stream, SNL posted the sketch to social media later that night with the word muted. — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for muted

Recent Examples of Synonyms for muted

Adjective

William has largely remained silent about the brothers' estrangement and has not publicly expressed a desire to repair their relationship.

— Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2026
Weigand spends much of his time on house calls, reviving cherished heirlooms that have long fallen silent.

— La'Tasha Givens, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of silent

Adjective

Oddly enough, her two Best Actress plays are both black-and-white, European period pieces, but while Rose is full of gender-bending swagger, Fatherland is a more subdued performance.

— Nate Jones, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026
Making waves across industries like fashion, beauty, and even interior design, the sensual shade feels more subdued and high-end than alternative reds while being easy to style in the cold-weather months.

— Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of subdued

Adjective

Below the video panel are buttons to end the live view, mute and unmute the speaker, and enable two-way talk.

— John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 21 Oct. 2026
While an ordinary walk might leave her mind racing toward work, looking for a particular color gave it something else to do, effectively putting all that other mental chatter on mute.

— Angela Haupt, Time, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of mute

Verb

They were repeatedly shushed instead as the Nittany Lions (3-3, 0-3) fell to 13-10 in their marquee event after failing to keep pace with a USC offense that averaged nearly eight yards per play through the first three quarters.

— ABC News, ABC News, 10 Oct. 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 shushed

Verb

The sullen tribute to Payne settled the room into a cool near-silence, punctured by quiet gasps and muffled crying.

— Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 19 Oct. 2026
The generational distance that has muffled the pain of 2001 is also seen in California’s varied educational approach.

— Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of muffled

Adjective

After a quiet day otherwise, Riley exploded for 33- and 72-yard rushing touchdowns to finish as the game’s leading rusher with 128 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries.

— Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 25 Oct. 2026
But following intense backlash to the 2024 anti-war protests, some students, faculty and external observers say campuses have become uncharacteristically quiet.

— Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of quiet

Adjective

Her perspective—consistently serene and largely without self-interest—lends the novel a restrained and gently contemplative tone.

— Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 22 Oct. 2026
The hotel interprets this mantra through balanced proportions, restrained interiors, and a hospitality approach that favors comfort over excess.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of restrained

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

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mute

muted

muteness

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Style

“Muted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muted. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of muted

adjective

verb

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