muted
Americanadjective
adjective
-
(of a sound or colour) softened
a muted pink shirt
-
(of an emotion or action) subdued or restrained
his response was muted
-
(of a musical instrument) being played while fitted with a mute
muted trumpet
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of muted
Explanation
Something muted has a softened tone or quieted sound. When you try to listen through the wall at what someone is saying, it's really muted and mumbly, even if you put a glass to your ear. When you mute the TV or computer speakers, all of the sound goes quiet, but something described as muted is just toned down or turned down. When you whisper you speak in a muted voice; it's not completely quiet or no one would hear you, but it's quiet enough to muffle the sounds or secrets you share. Muted colors don’t stand out as much as bright ones. Beiges and soft grays are muted, and they're great for showing off bright contrasts like a turquoise scarf or red tie.
Vocabulary lists containing muted
The Cay
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Long Way Down
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Shhhh! Synonyms for "Quiet"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
After Grande replied to the post, the video was muted and her comment removed.
From BBC • Jun. 12, 2026
“Judging from the relatively muted share-price reaction…We believe most investors are aware that inclusion to this list does not necessarily result in actual sanctions or affect fundamental business operations,” she added.
From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026
The World Cup is expected to pump $10.5 billion in ad spending into the global economy, although the impact in the U.S. will likely be more muted, according to the World Advertising Research Center.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026
Although television ratings continued to rise after they’d lost, the ultimate impact of the tournament was muted.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026
But a muted thud interrupted his attack, like an unexpected belch.
From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
