as in muted
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in stifled
to deaden the sound of
the walls muffled their conversation so that only a low murmur was heard
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wrapped
to surround or cover closely
the airport had been muffled in fog all morning long
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of muffled
Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 5 May 2026
Those inside the nearby ballroom could hear muffled pops.
—Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 27 Apr. 2026
Brian Gibson’s gangrenous bass riffs and gibbering, muffled vocals have even more gonzo energy than usual, while Chippendale mixes bombast and finesse with his customary flair.
—Reed Jackson, SPIN, 24 Apr. 2026
Day was dedicated to the bit, making Hernandez crack with muffled laughter.
—Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2026
That quiet was punctuated only by muffled bangs, as Sugar Bowl ski patrollers set off explosives in the peaks above to mitigate the danger of an avalanche inbounds at the resort.
—Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 20 Feb. 2026
My sisters teased me about my muffled giggles under the covers in the middle of the night.
—Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026
However, her panicked words are met with muffled sounds and a quick hang-up.
—Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
Her voice is muffled because her face is pressed against his chest.
—Allegra Goodman, New Yorker, 4 Jan. 2026
Olivia Kan-Sperling, Artforum, 2 May 2026
Their replies are muffled by their hands blocking their mouths.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 29 Apr. 2026
He’s perched on the second floor above the courtyard, a few bustling parties muffled in the background.
—Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2026
Other symptoms include ringing, a sensation like something is stuck in the ears or conversations sounding muffled.
—ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026
While Hazel Avenue is a busy street, traffic cannot be heard from inside the house and is muffled in the front yard.
—David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 6 Apr. 2026
The sound of a backstage vocal warmup was muffled by thick stage curtains.
—Melanie Asmar, Denver Post, 20 Mar. 2026
Bunny, wearing a knitted Balaclava and carrying a clip board, called out commands to the chief electrician in a voice muffled with pain.
—Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026
Using context-aware algorithms, this technology can, for example, be used to help distinguish between speech and noise, predict and suppress unwanted clamor in real time, and attempt to clean up speech that is muffled or distorted.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
But a patient pugilist values the muffled thud of shots to the resolve.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 5 May 2026
Those inside the nearby ballroom could hear muffled pops.
—Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 27 Apr. 2026
Brian Gibson’s gangrenous bass riffs and gibbering, muffled vocals have even more gonzo energy than usual, while Chippendale mixes bombast and finesse with his customary flair.
—Reed Jackson, SPIN, 24 Apr. 2026
Day was dedicated to the bit, making Hernandez crack with muffled laughter.
—Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2026
That quiet was punctuated only by muffled bangs, as Sugar Bowl ski patrollers set off explosives in the peaks above to mitigate the danger of an avalanche inbounds at the resort.
—Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 20 Feb. 2026
My sisters teased me about my muffled giggles under the covers in the middle of the night.
—Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026
However, her panicked words are met with muffled sounds and a quick hang-up.
—Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
Her voice is muffled because her face is pressed against his chest.
—Allegra Goodman, New Yorker, 4 Jan. 2026
Verb
Everything feels muffled, with such heavy carpeting.
—Olivia Kan-Sperling, Artforum, 2 May 2026
Their replies are muffled by their hands blocking their mouths.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 29 Apr. 2026
He’s perched on the second floor above the courtyard, a few bustling parties muffled in the background.
—Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2026
Other symptoms include ringing, a sensation like something is stuck in the ears or conversations sounding muffled.
—ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026
While Hazel Avenue is a busy street, traffic cannot be heard from inside the house and is muffled in the front yard.
—David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 6 Apr. 2026
The sound of a backstage vocal warmup was muffled by thick stage curtains.
—Melanie Asmar, Denver Post, 20 Mar. 2026
Bunny, wearing a knitted Balaclava and carrying a clip board, called out commands to the chief electrician in a voice muffled with pain.
—Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026
Using context-aware algorithms, this technology can, for example, be used to help distinguish between speech and noise, predict and suppress unwanted clamor in real time, and attempt to clean up speech that is muffled or distorted.
—IEEE Spectrum, 7 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muffled
Adjective
-
That goes for much here, from the light that scurries away from Benjamín Echazarreta’s muted camera, to the moments of sweetness that punctuate Mariá Portugal’s largely ominous score.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
14 May 2026
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Moreover, the brand’s growth in Europe, Middle East and Africa was impacted by muted consumer sentiment in Europe due to both higher energy costs and inflation and because the conflict impacted the brand’s ability to ship into the Middle East.—
Vicki M. Young,
Footwear News,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
And while the state has seen strong GDP growth in recent months, business groups still worry that this economic success could be stifled by limited job growth and economic uncertainty in the wake of federal policy changes.—
P.R. Lockhart,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
-
Embarrassed in the first period, stifled in the second, the Avs did something that almost never happens in this town with this team.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
The dough is rolled and wrapped and rolled again, with gobs of butter and ghee and a final brushing of oil on the grill.—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
After close to a year of being bubble-wrapped and duct-taped up, the dog and freezer remained in his kitchen.—
Corky Carroll,
Oc Register,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
Once shimmering, add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until softened and slightly translucent, 3 to 4 minutes.—
Caron Golden,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 May 2026
-
The softened ingredients mix better and create a lighter, fluffier pound cake.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 May 2026
Verb
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Days after the shooting stunned Shreveport, a whirlwind of police lights, camera crews and grieving relatives swarmed the neighborhood where the killings unfolded, the streets vibrating with sirens, the air shrouded in questions and disbelief.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
10 May 2026
-
The lack of information illustrates Missouri’s opaque budgeting process, which allows lawmakers to approve funding on items that are shrouded in vague language.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
The nervous tension that had enveloped the Emirates was banished, replaced by a carnival atmosphere.—
Ayo Akinwolere,
New York Times,
10 May 2026
-
To capture the 4-year-old’s personality, her aunt enveloped it in Annika Reed Studio’s Pegasus wallpaper and painted the trim Benjamin Moore’s Bedford Blue (1679) to match.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
10 May 2026
Adjective
-
The hushed buzz of clinking Champagne glasses or afternoon tea pots pouring steaming cups comes from the adjacent lobby lounge.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 May 2026
-
The wild, hushed world of Wellington may not be hidden behind those gates for long.—
Elise Taylor,
Vanity Fair,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Kozai’s sanctuary that features several seating options started as an open pergola purchased from Costco that Hildenbrand partially enclosed on three sides to give the items inside protection from the elements, Kozai said.—
Elizabeth Marie Himchak,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
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Keep your hands free and available to carry other essentials with this genius pet backpack that's secure, enclosed and sure to keep your pets feeling safe—even in times of crisis.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Muffled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muffled. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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