English noun: muteness | |||
| 1. | muteness (state) the condition of being unable or unwilling to speak | ||
| Samples | Her muteness was a consequence of her deafness. | ||
| Synonyms | mutism | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | condition, status | ||
| Narrower (hyponym) | deaf-muteness, deaf-mutism | ||
| 2. | muteness (attribute) a refusal to speak when expected | ||
| Samples | His silence about my contribution was surprising. | ||
| Synonyms | silence | ||
| Broader (hypernym) | uncommunicativeness | ||