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Synonyms

muted

American  
[myoo-tid] / ˈmyu tɪd /

adjective

  1. of low intensity and reduced volume; softened.

    She spoke in muted tones.
muted British  
/ ˈmjuːtɪd /

adjective

  1. (of a sound or colour) softened

    a muted pink shirt

  2. (of an emotion or action) subdued or restrained

    his response was muted

  3. (of a musical instrument) being played while fitted with a mute

    muted trumpet
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • mutedly adverb
  • unmuted adjective

Etymology

Origin of muted

First recorded in 1860–65; mute + -ed 2

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.

It is also a turnaround for Beijing, whose official response to the war has so far been quite muted.

From BBC

"It's almost certainly going to be a muted second quarter for spending and GDP growth as the worst of the inflation shock hits consumers," she warned.

From Barron's

He opens his mouth to say something, but at that moment, the muted thumping from inside amplifies when Zara steps out, and he doesn’t.

From Literature

BYD’s EV market share in China slid to 24.6% in the fourth quarter from 33% a year earlier, due to a muted product cycle and intensified competition, Bernstein analysts wrote in a note.

From The Wall Street Journal

What is likely to happen in the next few years is more muted and more predictable.

From Barron's

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.