muffle

verb

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muf·fle | \ ˈmə-fəl

muffled; muffling\ ˈmə-f(ə-)liŋ

Definition of muffle

transitive verb

1 : to wrap up so as to conceal or protect : envelop

2 obsolete : blindfold

3a : to wrap or pad with something to dull the sound muffle the oarlocks

b : to deaden the sound of

4 : keep down, suppress muffled her anger

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about muffle

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Synonyms & Antonyms for muffle

Synonyms

mute,
stifle

Antonyms

unmuffle

Examples of muffle in a Sentence

They tried to muffle the noise. I could hear their muffled voices from the next room.

Recent Examples on the Web Restaurateurs understand why distancing is still necessary, but that doesn’t muffle their disappointment. — Susan Dunne, courant.com, "Restaurants can’t get back to 100% capacity, even with new state ruling but ‘the vaccine is magic’," 6 Mar. 2021 Gain some privacy: The open-concept floor plan, so popular in recent years, was put to the test in 2020 as multiple household members struggled to take part in concurrent video meetings and classes without walls to muffle the sound. — Kim Palmer, Star Tribune, "10 home trends to enhance your space for the winter ahead," 11 Dec. 2020 The masks, when used, can muffle the dueling chants of a live-action partisan clash. — Matt Flegenheimer, New York Times, "Campaign 2020: Let’s Never Do This Again," 31 Oct. 2020 When the noise didn’t stop right away, a couple of people closed some of the retractable warehouse doors to muffle the sound. — USA TODAY, "Nail salons, strip club outbreak, Harvard from afar: News from around our 50 states," 8 July 2020 When the noise didn't stop right away, a couple of people closed some of the retractable warehouse doors to muffle the sound. — Morgan Watkins, The Courier-Journal, "Mitch McConnell greeted by small protest during visit to Louisville food bank," 6 July 2020 The original walls, built in the 1820s, were designed by university founder Thomas Jefferson to muffle the sounds of and hide from view the slaves who toiled on campus. — Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY, "University of Virginia changes logo to remove symbols related to slave labor," 17 June 2020 Historians have noted that in 1820, Thomas Jefferson, then president of the university, built 8-foot-high serpentine walls to muffle the sound of slaves and hide them from the public. — Spencer Neale, Washington Examiner, "'Serpentine walls and slavery': University of Virginia ditches saber logo based on Thomas Jefferson design," 17 June 2020 Moore doesn't take those lyrics lightly, especially with hearing problems (still unresolved after three surgeries) that can muffle sounds. — Nancy Kruh, PEOPLE.com, "Kip Moore Deals with Painful Regrets on New Album: 'I Had That Bottled Up Inside of Me for Years'," 29 May 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'muffle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.