MUFFLING Synonyms: 66 Similar and Opposite Words

muffling

verb

present participle of muffle

as in muting

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

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 The sound-muffling fabrics, carpets, ceiling tiles, tablecloths and rugs that used to decorate restaurants are deemed too stuffy these days, and even upholstered booths are being replaced by more barebones tables — and lots of them, close together. —

Allyson Reedy, Denver Post, 13 May 2026 Their flexible design fits snugly into ears, muffling plane engine sounds and loud conversations. —

Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026 Acidification reduces the pH of seawater, which also diminishes sound absorption, so the stain of ship’s engine noise spreads further, muffling the songs of humpbacks and the codas of sperm whales. —

Literary Hub, 9 Apr. 2026 The timeless linen is backed with a white blackout liner to block out as much light as possible without adding unnecessary bulk to your window frames while muffling the sound from your street. —

Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 31 Mar. 2026 Ideal for bedrooms, nurseries, apartments with older doors, and homes with hardwood or tile floors, this $4 draft stopper can stop the chilly air from entering, while also muffling outside noises and blocking dust, pollen, and pests. —

Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Feb. 2026 In addition, six interchanges were reconfigured and 7 miles of noise-muffling walls were installed. —

Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 3 Feb. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for muffling

Verb

But the field has struggled to figure out a means of delivering RNA-muting molecules into organs and tissues beyond the liver, which has limited their reach.

— Elaine Chen, STAT, 9 June 2026
Historians have written about how the widespread fear and conformity of these periods reshaped American society in enduring ways, including the destruction of progressive political movements and both delaying and muting the Civil Rights Movement itself.

— Bruce Schneier, The Conversation, 27 May 2026