1
as in muting
to deaden the sound of
the walls muffled their conversation so that only a low murmur was heard
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wrapping
to surround or cover closely
the airport had been muffled in fog all morning long
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of muffling
Kubiak found that easy to navigate with a conservative game plan in the season finale at the 49ers with a rushing attack that had 39 attempts for 180 yards while the Seahawks’ defense was muffling the opposition.
—
Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 14 Jan. 2026
The active noise cancellation actually blocks sounds, instead of offering that fake muffling nonsense.
—PC Magazine, 22 Nov. 2025
Money floods into affected districts, muffling outrage precisely when constituents are most enraged.
—John J. Donohue, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
The music, which ranges from Motown to '80s alternative, enlivens the room without muffling conversations.
—Keith Pandolfi, Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 Aug. 2025
Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 14 Jan. 2026
The active noise cancellation actually blocks sounds, instead of offering that fake muffling nonsense.
—PC Magazine, 22 Nov. 2025
Money floods into affected districts, muffling outrage precisely when constituents are most enraged.
—John J. Donohue, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025
The music, which ranges from Motown to '80s alternative, enlivens the room without muffling conversations.
—Keith Pandolfi, Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muffling
Verb
-
The two-year war that followed had a muting effect on deals between Israel and the UAE, as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza created a PR catastrophe for Israelis in the Gulf.—
Kelsey Warner,
semafor.com,
19 Jan. 2026
-
For much of the past year, neither side was willing to budge much from their respective stance, effectively muting any chance of a settlement.—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
1 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Dearfoams Moritz Booties Okay, imagine wrapping your feet in a blanket—that’s exactly what these Dearfoams booties feel like.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Jan. 2026
-
On the day Ujlaky vanished, prosecutors alleged Dickey choked her by wrapping a ligature around her neck before raping her and slashing her throat, according to a criminal complaint obtained by PEOPLE.—
KC Baker,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Arc’teryx base layers hit the trifecta—we’re partial to the Rho line, which use the brand’s Torrent stretch fleece for light (never stifling) warmth and plenty of stretch.—
Kristen Geil,
Outside,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The Blue Devils got 10 points from Patrick Ngongba and used a stifling defense to limit Texas to 32% shooting and force 16 turnovers.—
Lia Assimakopoulos,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Plush textures such as sheepskin, velvet, or textured upholstery, combined with enveloping shapes and natural materials, make chairs feel like an experience rather than an afterthought, inviting hotel guests to sit, relax, and linger.—
Colleen Sullivan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 Jan. 2026
-
One of these designs featured an underlayer enveloping the bust with a special treatment solidifying the fabric and giving it an almost liquid sheen.—
Alex Wynne,
Footwear News,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The shrouding haze seemed to breathe, ebbing and flowing slowly, allowing momentary distant views that vanished with the next foggy breath.—
Ernie Cowan,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Jan. 2026
-
On January 8th, the twelfth day of mass protests in Iran, which began when shopkeepers, responding to runaway inflation, closed Tehran’s Grand Bazaar, the Iranian government shut down public access to the internet, further shrouding an already largely closed society.—
Benjamin Wallace-Wells,
New Yorker,
17 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
And while the fence enclosing the yard is made of vinyl — which is flammable — the five-foot section closest to the house is a metal gate.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Details-wise, Johnson is seeing an uptick in adding brass rods, enclosing bookshelves with a textured wallpaper, or adding unique millwork design flourishes that aren’t in a standard Shaker-style.—
Kate Jerde,
Architectural Digest,
28 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Natural thawing eliminates damage caused by trying to remove ice encasing stems of perennials and shrubs.—
Barbara Gillette,
The Spruce,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The serene pool and hot tub area is no different, decorated with native plants and nestled into the landscape; the walls encasing the pool deck are a nearly identical hue to the surrounding mountains.—
Kristine Thomason,
Outside,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Muffling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muffling. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
