muted

IPA/ˈmjuːtɪd/
KK[mjˈutɪd]IPA/ˈmjuːtɪd/

muted — adjective

  • mutedpositive
  • more mutedcomparative
  • most mutedsuperlative

1. quieter or less forceful in volume than is typical, so that the sound does not t

1.形容詞B2
釋義

quieter or less forceful in volume than is typical, so that the sound does not travel far or demand attention.

例句

Theo heard muted laughter coming from the room next door, where some guests were playing cards.

collocation: muted laughter

A muted conversation between two nurses drifted down the hospital corridor at two in the morning.

typical position: before a noun like conversation, sound, voice

同義詞
  • quiet

    broader term — can describe people, places, or sounds; 'muted' is more specific to deliberately softened sound

  • soft

    focuses on low volume without the implication of intentional suppression

  • hushed

    suggests a deliberate effort to keep sound down, often in a reverent or secretive context

反義詞
  • loud

    general opposite

  • raucous

    implies harsh, disorderly loudness, the opposite of controlled softness

文法句型

muted + noun (sound, voice, laughter, music)

用法筆記

Typically placed before the noun it describes (e.g. muted applause, muted tones). Unlike 'quiet', which can describe a person or a place, 'muted' almost always describes the sound itself.

常見錯誤

❌The library was muted.
✅The library was quiet.
💡'muted' describes a sound that has been deliberately or noticeably softened, not a place that lacks noise.
❌She spoke in a muted voice.' (acceptable but less common)
✅Her voice was muted.
💡Both are fine, but the attributive use (before the noun) is far more frequent.

2. not showing strong feeling, enthusiasm, or support; deliberately restrained in e

2.形容詞B2
釋義

not showing strong feeling, enthusiasm, or support; deliberately restrained in expression.

例句

The new policy received only muted support from employees, who felt it did not address their concerns.

collocation: muted support

There was muted applause at the end of the speech, which told the candidate that the audience was not convinced.

同義詞
  • subdued

    very similar in meaning; 'subdued' can also describe a person's mood, while 'muted' focuses on the expression

  • restrained

    emphasises deliberate self-control or moderation

  • understated

    more positive — suggests elegant subtlety rather than disappointment

反義詞

文法句型

muted + response/reaction/enthusiasm/support

用法筆記

Frequently used to describe reactions in political, corporate, or public contexts where people choose not to express strong opinions openly. Often carries a hint of disappointment or withheld approval.

常見錯誤

❌I felt muted about the movie.
✅My reaction to the movie was muted.
💡'muted' describes the outward expression, not the internal feeling.
❌The audience was muted.
✅The audience's response was muted.
💡'muted' modifies reactions and expressions, not the people themselves.

3. not bright or vivid; having a soft, greyish, or pale quality that makes a colour

3.形容詞B1
釋義

not bright or vivid; having a soft, greyish, or pale quality that makes a colour look gentle rather than striking.

例句

The wedding invitations used a muted sage green paper with silver lettering that caught the light.

collocation: muted + colour name (sage green)

The designer chose a muted shade of terracotta that made the living room feel warm but calm.

同義詞
  • subdued

    interchangeable for colours; both suggest low saturation

  • pale

    implies lightness rather than softness — a pale colour may still be bright

  • dull

    more negative — can suggest the colour is simply unattractive rather than intentionally softened

反義詞
  • bright

    direct opposite in colour intensity

  • vibrant

    strongly saturated and lively

文法句型

muted + colour name (green, blue, red, tone, shade)

用法筆記

Common in fashion, interior design, and art criticism. The opposite of 'bright', 'vibrant', or 'bold'. 'Muted' colours are often described as 'dusty', 'faded', or 'subdued'.

常見錯誤

❌The sky was muted today.
✅The sky was a muted grey today.
💡'muted' needs a specific colour reference to make sense.
❌The muted paint.
✅The muted shade of paint.
💡'muted' typically modifies the colour or tone, not the paint itself.

4. describes the sound of a musical instrument that has been softened by a special

4.形容詞C1
釋義

describes the sound of a musical instrument that has been softened by a special device placed inside or against it, changing the instrument's tone quality.

例句

The trumpeter played a slow, mournful melody with a muted trumpet, giving the solo a smoky, distant quality.

domain: music — muted + instrument name

In the final movement, the conductor asked for muted strings, which created a soft, shimmering background for the woodwinds.

同義詞
  • muffled

    more general — describes any sound that is hard to hear clearly, not just musical sounds with a specific device

  • veiled

    describes a particular quality of muted brass sound; used by music critics

反義詞
  • open

    describes a brass instrument played without a mute

  • bright

    describes a ringing, unmuted tone

文法句型

muted + instrument (trumpet, violin, trombone)

用法筆記

A specialised musical term. A 'mute' is a physical object (made of metal, rubber, or wood) that changes the instrument's timbre. This sense is distinct from the electronic concept of 'muting' audio (as in a microphone), which was dropped from this entry as a separate, unsupported meaning.

常見錯誤

❌He played the muted guitar.
✅He played the guitar with a mute.' or 'He played a muted trumpet.
💡The adjective describes the sound produced, not an action. Also, guitar mutes work differently; this sense most commonly applies to brass and string instruments.
❌The singer's voice sounded muted.
✅The singer's voice was hushed.
💡This sense applies to instruments, not voices.