muffle

verb

muf·​fle ˈmə-fəl 

muffled; muffling ˈmə-f(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to wrap up so as to conceal or protect : envelop

2

obsolete : blindfold

3

a

: to wrap or pad with something to dull the sound

muffle the oarlocks

b

: to deaden the sound of

4

: keep down, suppress

muffled her anger

Synonyms

• mute
• stifle

Examples of muffle in a Sentence

They tried to muffle the noise.

I could hear their muffled voices from the next room.

Recent Examples on the Web

His low desk was shoved into the corner furthest from the windows, as if Gussow had wanted to muffle the city’s distractions. —Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 27 Dec. 2024

Get your pet soundproof earmuffs or play soothing sounds on a sound machine to muffle noise. —Natalie Davies, Detroit Free Press, 25 Dec. 2024

Unlike typical earplugs, these filter out damaging frequencies without muffling the sound. —Louryn Strampe, WIRED, 30 Nov. 2024

Owners can do a number of things to relieve this type of anxiety in dogs, such as leaving a long-lasting chew toy with them when leaving and keeping the radio on to muffle outside noises. —Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English muflen

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

muffle

verb

muf·​fle ˈməf-əl 

muffled; muffling ˈməf-(ə-)liŋ 

1

: to wrap up so as to conceal or protect

2

: to deaden the sound of

muffle a cry