muted

[myoo-tid]

adjective

1. of low intensity and reduced volume; softened.

   She spoke in muted tones.

muted

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• mutedly adverb
• unmuted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of muted¹

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

Example Sentences

Instead, organisers have been left scrambling to organise a muted switch-on, with Sunday's event cancelled following advice from its safety advisory group, amid nationwide security concerns in the wake of the Manchester synagogue attack.

Read more on BBC

In a world where macro filters are muted, stock-specific fundamentals may dominate.

Read more on MarketWatch

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie’s office offered a more muted response, touting the mayor’s efforts to boost public safety in general, but declining to directly address Benioff’s remarks.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A recent Bloomberg report highlighted concerns for the private-equity industry, saying: “Many institutional investors concede that their expectations from private equity investments are muted for the next decade.”

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While Friday’s moves were muted, new highs have abounded.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• delicate 
• dim 
• distant 
• dull 
• far-off 
• gentle 
• hazy 
• inaudible 
• mild 
• muffled www.thesaurus.com
• remote 
• slight 
• soft 
• soothing 
• stifled 
• vague 
• weak