muzzle

noun

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muz·zle | \ ˈmə-zəl

Definition of muzzle

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : the projecting jaws and nose of an animal : snout

2a : a fastening or covering for the mouth of an animal used to prevent eating or biting

b : something (such as censorship) that restrains normal expression

3 : the open end of an implement especially : the discharging end of a weapon

muzzle

verb

muzzled; muzzling\ ˈməz-liŋ

, ˈmə-zə- \

Definition of muzzle (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to fit with a muzzle

2a : gag muzzled the regime's critics

b : restrain, restrict the Pentagon's efforts to muzzle press access— Joe Strupp the low prices muzzled competition

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Examples of muzzle in a Sentence

Verb 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: Noun First in his big eyes, and then down his long nose straight to his muzzle. — Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, "A day at the spa: What a whirlpool for racehorses looks like on the Churchill Downs backside," 21 Apr. 2021 But after such a bitter and polarizing campaign season, many viewers on the left seemed to want even more of a muzzle. — Teo Armus, Washington Post, "Colbert’s message to debate viewers who wanted even less Trump: ‘The ultimate mute button is in your hands’," 23 Oct. 2020 The mask my mother-in-law puts on the dog statue outside her front door keeps getting ripped from his muzzle. — Washington Post, "Grandma hugs beat out piña coladas for our pandemic-era spring break," 8 Apr. 2021 The agency has not released the dog’s name, age or gender, but photos show the bulldog is tan with brown coloring around its muzzle and eyes. — Katie Rice, orlandosentinel.com, "Bulldog stolen from owner at gunpoint in west Orange County, deputies say," 2 Apr. 2021 Donations were collected and a local artist was commissioned to create the likeness of Zorik, with his upright ears and shaggy hair around his muzzle, along with a cat nestled against him. — Maris Hellrand, Star Tribune, "Estonians erect statue and give home to beloved stray dog," 19 Feb. 2021 The pool steamed on the edge of a cliff over the Yokoyu River, and a single monkey sat at its center, an old female with a long muzzle and round amber eyes. — Maciek Pożoga, Smithsonian Magazine, "What Japan’s Wild Snow Monkeys Can Teach Us About Animal Culture," 5 Jan. 2021 Follow the cardinal rules (TAB-K) of firearm safety: Treat every firearm as if it is loaded; always point the muzzle in a safe direction; be certain of your target and what's beyond it; keep your finger out of the trigger guard until ready to shoot. — Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Smith: Prepare for the 2020 Wisconsin deer season, a hunt unlike any we’ve experienced," 14 Nov. 2020 The video doesn’t show a muzzle flash from Santos’ gun and a gunshot cannot be heard because the first 30 seconds of the five-minute video does not have audio. — N'dea Yancey-bragg, USA TODAY, "Texas police release body camera video of fatal shooting of Joshua Feast," 23 Dec. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb But some community organizers saw it differently, saying it was designed to muzzle dissent. — CBS News, "Florida's Republican-controlled Legislature passes "anti-riot" bill amid racial unrest," 16 Apr. 2021 China’s efforts to muzzle critics could backfire and keep people away, Mr. Piccone says. — Ann Scott Tyson, The Christian Science Monitor, "As Beijing’s power grows, can it shift meaning of ‘human rights’?," 26 Feb. 2021 Yet by not using the tools available to a president, including public appearances or interviews for most of the past two months, Mr. Trump has in some ways chosen to muzzle himself. — New York Times, "Stripped of Twitter, Trump Faces a New Challenge: How to Command Attention," 10 Jan. 2021 Republicans said the hodge-podge of changes is designed to muzzle their party. — Andrew Taylor, ajc, "Democrats tighten control with House rules changes," 4 Jan. 2021 Pelosi says masks mandatory while in US House chamber House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is vowing to muzzle any member who isn’t wearing a mask. — NBC News, "Covid live updates: First Pfizer vaccine doses are given across the U.S.," 16 Dec. 2020 The groups were responding to an executive order Trump issued in May that threatened to strip the platforms of liability protections and -- the groups argue -- muzzle their free-speech rights to comment on user posts. — Joel Rosenblatt, Bloomberg.com, "Judge Says Injury ‘Speculative’ in Trump’s Bid to Crack Down on Social Media," 22 Oct. 2020 An employee of Hillcrest Animal Hospital was bit by a dog Nov. 17 when trying to muzzle it. — cleveland, "Bank staff arrives to naked man sleeping in lobby: Richmond Heights Police Blotter," 26 Nov. 2020 Animal rights advocates said that fear and dislike of dogs may be aggravated by some owners who neglect to leash or muzzle their pets. — New York Times, "A Chinese County Aims to Curb Dog Walking by Threatening to Kill the Dog," 19 Nov. 2020

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