Muteness — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈmyüt/

Meaning & Definition of Muteness

Muteness (adjective)

  1. unable to speak, lacking the power of speech
  2. characterized by absence of speech
  3. felt or experienced but not expressed

Muteness (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. incapacity for or restraint from speaking

    "we were baffled by his uncharacteristic muteness"

    similar: silence, speechlessness, stillness
    related: inarticulacy, inarticulateness, voicelessness, reserve, reticence, reticency, taciturnity
    near: communication, speaking, talking, eloquence, fluency, volubility, chattiness, garrulousness, loquaciousness, loquacity, talkativeness, talkiness, verboseness, verbosity, windiness, wordiness

Related Entry: Mute (adjective)

Mute is a different word from Muteness. The synonyms below are for mute, not for muteness.

  1. unable to speak

    "the child is both deaf and mute because her hearing was lost at birth"

    similar: inarticulate, speechless, voiceless
    related: tongue-tied, incoherent, incomprehensible, closemouthed, laconic, reserved, reticent, taciturn, tight-lipped, uncommunicative, mum, nonspeaking, quiet, silent, wordless
    near: blabby, chatty, communicative, expansive, gabby, garrulous, loquacious, talkative, talky, vocal, expatiating, speaking out, speaking up, articulating, speaking, talking, articulate, eloquent, fluent, voluble

  2. deliberately refraining from speech

    "remained mute no matter how much we pleaded for an answer"

    similar: mum, muted, silent, speechless, uncommunicative, wordless
    related: inarticulate, tongue-tied, nonvocal, voiceless, dumbstruck, sulking, sulky, sullen
    opposite: communicative, speaking, talking
    near: articulate, eloquent, fluent, voluble, well-spoken, gabby, garrulous, loquacious, talkative, talky, outspoken, unreserved, vocal, facile, glib, silver-tongued, smooth-tongued

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Muteness

The most common words with a similar meaning to Muteness:

silence, speechlessness, stillness

Related Words for Muteness

inarticulacy, inarticulateness, voicelessness, reserve, reticence, reticency, taciturnity

Near Antonyms of Muteness

communication, speaking, talking, eloquence, fluency, volubility, chattiness, garrulousness, loquaciousness, loquacity, talkativeness, talkiness, verboseness, verbosity, windiness, wordiness

Word Forms of Muteness

Inflections: muter, mutest

Derived words: mutely (adverb), muteness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Muteness

Middle English muet, mut, from Anglo-French, from mu, mute, from Latin mutus, probably from mu, representation of a muttered sound

First known use: 1513

Frequently Asked Questions about Muteness

What does "Muteness" mean?

"Muteness" means unable to speak, lacking the power of speech. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: unable to speak, lacking the power of speech.

What is another word for "Muteness"?

Other words for "Muteness" include silence, speechlessness and stillness. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Muteness" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Muteness"?

There are 10 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Muteness". Common alternatives include silence, speechlessness and stillness.

How do you use "Muteness" in a sentence?

Examples of "Muteness" in a sentence: "we were baffled by his uncharacteristic muteness".

Is "Muteness" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Muteness" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Muteness"?

"Muteness" is pronounced /ˈmyüt/.

What is the origin of the word "Muteness"?

"Muteness" comes from Middle English muet, mut, from Anglo-French, from mu, mute, from Latin mutus, probably from mu, representation of a muttered sound. First known use: 1513.

What is another word for "Muteness" meaning "incapacity for or restraint from speaking"?

When "Muteness" (noun) means incapacity for or restraint from speaking, synonyms include silence, speechlessness and stillness.