muzzle

verb

muzzled; muzzling ˈməz-liŋ 

ˈmə-zə-

transitive verb

1

: to fit with a muzzle

2

a

: gag

muzzled the regime's critics

b

: restrain, restrict

… the Pentagon's efforts to muzzle press access.

—Joe Strupp

the low prices muzzled competition

muzzler

ˈməz-lər 

ˈmə-zə-

noun

Examples of muzzle in a Sentence

a dangerous dog that should be muzzled

attempts by the government to muzzle the press

The company has tried to muzzle its employees by forbidding them to speak to the press.

Recent Examples on the Web

The husband of Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen shot her dead at their home with a shotgun that had been muzzled with a pillow, according to court records released on Thursday. —Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2026

Kornyev’s client is the barely hanging on Stepinak (Aleksandr Filippenko), a Bolshevik targeted by the secret police told to muzzle and expunge dissenters. —Randy Myers, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026

Amid a Republican political and legal campaign claiming conservative speech is unfairly muzzled online, tech companies have dialed back their policies and some researchers have abandoned the field. —Shannon Bond, NPR, 9 Mar. 2026

These requirements involved insurance, muzzle the dog in public, wear a specific dog tag, and a post a sign on the home. —Jim McHugh, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for muzzle

• puzzle

Kids Definition

muzzle

1 of 2 noun

muz·​zle ˈməz-əl 

1

: the nose and jaws of an animal : snout

2

: a covering for the mouth and jaws of an animal used to keep it from eating or biting

3

: the open end of a weapon from which the missile is fired

muzzle

2 of 2 verb

muzzled; muzzling ˈməz-(ə-)liŋ 

1

: to put a muzzle on

2

: to prevent free or normal expression by : gag

the dictator muzzled the press

Medical Definition

muzzle

1 of 2 noun

muz·​zle ˈməz-əl 

1

: the projecting jaws and nose of an animal : snout

2

: a fastening or covering for the mouth of an animal used to prevent eating or biting

muzzle

2 of 2 transitive verb

muzzled; muzzling -(ə-)liŋ 

: to fit with a muzzle