muted

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

muted — 形容詞

  • 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

低沉的；微弱

比平常小聲、安靜的

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.

Theo 聽到隔壁房間傳來壓低的笑聲，一些賓客正在那裡打牌。

collocation: muted laughter

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

凌晨兩點，兩名護士在醫院走廊上交談的微弱聲音從遠處飄來。

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

不熱烈；冷淡

反應或態度不強烈

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.

新政策只得到了員工冷淡的支持，他們認為這項政策並未解決他們的顧慮。

collocation: muted support

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

演講結束時掌聲並不熱烈，這讓候選人明白聽眾並沒有被打動。

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

不鮮豔；柔和

顏色不鮮明、偏灰暗的

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.

婚禮邀請函使用了柔和的鼠尾草綠色紙張，搭配會反光的銀色字體。

collocation: muted + colour name (sage green)

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

設計師為客廳牆壁選擇了一種不鮮豔的陶土色調，讓空間感覺溫暖但不刺眼。

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

加弱音器的

樂器裝上弱音器後產生的音色

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.

這位小號手用加了弱音器的小號演奏了一段緩慢憂傷的旋律，賦予獨奏一種煙霧般遙遠的質感。

domain: music — muted + instrument name

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

在最後一個樂章中，指揮要求弦樂器使用弱音器，為木管樂器營造出柔和閃爍的背景。

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.