Mutely: meaning, definitions and examples

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mutely

[ ˈmjuːtli ]

Adverb

^{Context #1 | Adverb}

in a silent or speechless manner

Mutely is an adverb that means in a silent or speechless manner. It is used to describe the action of being quiet or not speaking. When someone communicates mutely, they are using gestures, facial expressions, or other non-verbal cues instead of words. This can be due to shyness, discomfort, or a deliberate choice not to speak.

Synonyms

quietly, silently, speechlessly.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
mutely	Used when someone communicates without speaking, often due to circumstances where they cannot or prefer not to speak. It can refer to situations where speech is unnecessary or intentionally avoided. She nodded mutely in agreement. He handed her the letter mutely, not wanting to elaborate.
silently	Describes complete absence of sound, typically in a more intense or dramatic setting. It often implies a profound stillness or seriousness. They stood silently as the flag was raised. The room fell silent as she began her speech.
speechlessly	Used to describe someone who is unable to speak often due to shock, surprise, or strong emotion. He was left speechless by the unexpected news. She stared at him speechlessly, not knowing how to respond.
quietly	Appropriate for situations where actions, speech, or noise are done in a soft and gentle manner to not attract attention or disturb others. She spoke quietly so as not to wake the baby. He entered the room quietly and took a seat.

Examples of usage

She nodded mutely, unable to find the right words to express her feelings.
The child stared mutely at the teacher, too nervous to speak up in class.
He stood mutely in the corner, observing the conversation without saying a word.

Translations

Translations of the word "mutely" in other languages:

🇵🇹 silenciosamente

🇮🇳 मौन

🇩🇪 still

🇮🇩 diam

🇺🇦 мовчки

🇵🇱 milcząco

🇯🇵 無言で

🇫🇷 silencieusement

🇪🇸 en silencio

🇹🇷 suskun bir şekilde

🇰🇷 묵묵히

🇸🇦 بصمت

🇨🇿 mlčky

🇸🇰 mlčky

🇨🇳 默默地

🇸🇮 molče

🇮🇸 þegjandi

🇰🇿 үнсіз

🇬🇪 უმშვენიეროდ

🇦🇿 susqun

🇲🇽 en silencio

Etymology

The word 'mutely' originates from the Old French word 'mu' meaning 'dumb' or 'silent'. Over time, it evolved to its current form in English, retaining the meaning of being silent or speechless. The use of 'mutely' in English literature can be traced back to the 17th century, where it was used to describe characters who communicated non-verbally.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #30,290 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.

...
30287 facetiously
30288 zeroed
30289 aureole
30290 mutely
30291 potty
30292 requited
30293 vituperation
...