muffle

verb

muf·​fle ˈmə-fəl 

muffled; muffling ˈmə-f(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

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

2

obsolete : blindfold

3

a

: 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 of muffle

• mute
• stifle

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

Other entrepreneurs can muffle the static of life and zero in on what actually matters. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2026

Things between David and the other characters are awkward and muffled rather than climactic. — Emma Alpern, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026

Polite, slightly puzzling debates over the merits of using concrete in Africa muffle the period’s scalding passions and incandescent dreams. — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 2 Sep. 2026

The actress wears a toasty-looking fur hat and sits cross-legged on the floor, the Canadian road traffic muffling her voice slightly. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English muflen

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for muffle

• duffel
• duffle
• ruffle
• scuffle
• shuffle
• truffle
• reshuffle

Kids Definition

muffle

verb

muf·​fle ˈməf-əl 

muffled; muffling ˈməf-(ə-)liŋ 

1

: to wrap up so as to conceal or protect

2

: to deaden the sound of

muffle a cry