1
as in mutes
to deaden the sound of
the walls muffled their conversation so that only a low murmur was heard
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wraps
to surround or cover closely
the airport had been muffled in fog all morning long
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of muffles
Although the snow sometimes muffles the thunder, the lightning can be seen, said meteorologist Grant Gilmore, formerly of WFMY-TV in Greensboro, North Carolina.
—
Doyle Rice, USA Today, 25 Nov. 2025
Doyle Rice, USA Today, 25 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muffles
Verb
-
Using a vegetable peeler, shave a modest amount of Parmesan onto a plate (a mound of grated Parmesan may look impressive, but all that clumpy cheese mutes the dressing).—
Sue Li,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 June 2026
-
Canned water chestnuts are blanched before packing, which mutes their flavor slightly but preserves their crispness.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The mural that wraps around the room depicts the colorful life of the bar’s namesake, Arabella Huntington, the second wife of railroad magnate Collis Potter Huntington, and the cocktails in the drinks menu are playfully written as fictional entries in Arabella’s diary.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 June 2026
-
Still, there’s something fitting about a trans teen comedy released in 2026 that wraps things up too soon.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
Micromanagement stifles creativity, motivation, and productivity.—
Maria Ross,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
That stifles competition at home and, with China’s dependence on global consumption, raises concerns about dumping and deflation abroad.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
An extraordinary tiredness envelops my bones, rendering my senses into mush.—
Joseph Trinidad,
Longreads,
16 June 2026
-
Spray paint hisses and music envelops Amsterdam Avenue as Knicks colors cover the sidewalk.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
Verb
-
Secrecy shrouds the guest list, although photos of John Legend and the Beckhams at Argentaia have popped on social media.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
22 May 2026
-
This ornament, situating them as something between a throw pillow and a hand muff, shrouds the thick-boned fore- and hindquarters that give them a characteristic rolling gait.—
Andrew Norman Wilson,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Sitting unassumingly on a city plaza, the spruce structure encloses a windowless cylinder of silence.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
10 June 2026
-
The chicken embryo is embedded in the membrane that encloses the yolk, and the tension on the membrane provided by the yolk is needed for the embryo to develop properly.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
The plastic that encases laundry pods dissolves and rinses out with the excess water.—
Katelyn Chef,
Southern Living,
18 June 2026
-
The faux hair encases her locs, allowing the blonde to be the focal point of the look.—
Larry Stansbury,
InStyle,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
In reality, Lewis says, men have a deep, wide range of feeling that encompasses both traditionally masculine and traditionally feminine aspects.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
21 June 2026
-
The destination encompasses six islands strung together between Key Largo and Key West, and a whole lot of adventure from excellent sportfishing to kayaking emerald waters.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
21 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Muffles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muffles. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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