muffled 1 of 2

adjective

as in muted

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

muffled

2 of 2

verb

past tense of muffle
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

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 muffled
Adjective
Next, save 33% on the Amazon Fire TV soundbar to boost your living room audio and end muffled dialogue. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 29 Sep. 2026 The screaming sounded like a young girl, but the voice was muffled and hard to hear above the rushing river. — Peter Hessler, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026 His work ranged from the muffled light and shadow of his early landscapes to the snappy glamour of his fashion photography and celebrity portraits (Greta Garbo, Charlie Chaplin, Anna May Wong). — Susan Tallman, The Atlantic, 13 Sep. 2026 There are certain sound FX still giving you feedback, but muffled shootouts are refreshingly scary. — Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 4 Sep. 2026 Like all my feelings are muffled music playing underwater, not erased, but quieter, harder to reach. — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026 The bear had sought refuge in it, and as the houndsman and his friends pulled up in sight of it, the muffled squeals of the dogs, which had instantly followed the bear in, told the men that the pack was getting smaller every minute. — Paul Schullery, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026 The video’s moodiness subtly underscores the fact that the lion’s share of these tracks are built on one muffled breakbeat, which tolls like clockwork across the LP. — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 23 July 2026 Barreto’s muffled voice is heard responding. — Diego Mendoza, CNN Money, 28 June 2026
Verb
The generational distance that has muffled the pain of 2001 is also seen in California’s varied educational approach. — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026 Things between David and the other characters are awkward and muffled rather than climactic. — Emma Alpern, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026 Now the sound was muffled from the hunters as the dogs passed around a canebrake wall bordered by a dark bayou. — Paul Schullery, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026 Educational lectures at the aquarium and the sounds of traffic on the street both came through clearly, not remotely muffled. — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 30 July 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muffled
  1. muted
  2. stifled
  3. wrapped
  4. softened
  5. shrouded
  6. hushed
  7. enveloped
  8. enclosed
Adjective
  • Related Articles Echoes of Weyant’s paintings of women in muted tones can be seen throughout the interior of her now-for-sale apartment.
    — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Oil prices are lower, the bond market is stable, and yet the major stock averages are having a muted day.
    — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of muted
Verb
  • While Odebunmi was producing for Cleveland, the Cavaliers largely stifled Birmingham’s top offensive threat, wide receiver Paul Turner.
    — Joel Beers, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The Falcons dominated the second half with their offense, and the defense stifled the Packers and quarterback Jordan Love.
    — Rod Beard, AJC.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of stifled
Verb
  • The principal actors came onboard, and the $45 million production began that July and had wrapped by September 2025.
    — E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Although his tour wrapped in early 2016, the band never pulled together a summer jaunt.
    — Leena Tailor, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of wrapped
Adjective
  • Add scallions and garlic to reserved drippings in skillet; cook over medium-low, stirring constantly, until softened and fragrant, about 2 minutes.
    — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2026
  • In a small bowl, combine the softened butter, garlic, and parsley.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of softened
Verb
  • However, for many designers, the pitching and publication process often feels shrouded in secrecy.
    — Elizabeth Fazzare, Architectural Digest, 22 Sep. 2026
  • One of Eagle's concerns is that the proposals are shrouded in secrecy.
    — Norah O'Donnell, CBS News, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of shrouded
Adjective
  • In other words, get ready to read a lot and yet, surprisingly, to enjoy the immersion, as one might the hushed thrill of a surveillance sequence.
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
  • In their eloquence and their ways of avoiding easy comfort, the poems also deal with the hushed experience of surviving someone else’s death and fulfill the urge to say something not only real and true but formal and exact, as though for a ceremony.
    — Colm Tóibín, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of hushed
Verb
  • Plastic sheeting would’ve soon enveloped the Braves’ clubhouse.
    — Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 1 Oct. 2026
  • While the Saint Laurent spring 2027 show had attendees enveloped in gold, the metallic hue was not the only shimmering moment at what some are calling Anthony Vaccarello’s final show for the French luxury fashion house.
    — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of enveloped
Verb
  • In home gardens, small orchards, and organic operations, individual developing apples can be enclosed in protective bags that prevent female flies from reaching the fruit and laying eggs.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Samson says the wings, tail and propeller are now fully enclosed inside the vehicle during driving mode.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of enclosed

Browse Nearby Words

muffle
muffled
muffler
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Muffled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muffled. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
name tags
Words Named After People Quiz Find out who’s behind "leotard," "morphine," an...
See All