muffle

¹ American  

[muhf-uhl] / ˈmʌf əl /

verb (used with object)

muffled, muffling

1. to wrap with something to deaden or prevent sound.

   to muffle drums.

2. to deaden (sound) by wrappings or other means.

3. to wrap or envelop in a cloak, shawl, coat, etc., especially to keep warm or protect the face and neck (often followed byup ).

   Muffle up the children before they go out.

4. to wrap (oneself) in a garment or other covering.

   muffled in silk.

5. to alter temporarily the profile of (a plaster mold) in order to run a base coat of plaster that will later be covered by a finish coat having the true profile.

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noun

1. something that muffles.

2. muffled sound.

3. an oven or arched chamber in a furnace or kiln, used for heating substances without direct contact with the fire.

muffle ² American  

[muhf-uhl] / ˈmʌf əl /

noun

1. the thick, bare part of the upper lip and nose of ruminants and rodents.

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muffle ¹ British  

/ ˈmʌfəl /

verb

1. (often foll by up) to wrap up (the head) in a scarf, cloak, etc, esp for warmth

2. to deaden (a sound or noise), esp by wrapping

3. to prevent (the expression of something) by (someone)

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noun

1. something that muffles

2. a kiln with an inner chamber for firing porcelain, enamel, etc, at a low temperature

muffle ² British  

/ ˈmʌfəl /

noun

1. the fleshy hairless part of the upper lip and nose in ruminants and some rodents

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Etymology

Origin of muffle¹

First recorded in 1450–1500; late Middle English muffelen “to veil, cover”; probably a derivative of Old French moufle “mitten”; see also muff

Origin of muffle²

First recorded in 1600–10; from Middle French mufle “muzzle, snout,” probably blend of moufle “chubby face” and museau muzzle

Explanation

To muffle is to quiet a sound, usually by wrapping it with something. If you try to speak with a scarf over your mouth, your voice will be muffled. When a hitman puts a silencer on a gun, he's muffling the sound of gunshots, since muffling makes things quieter. Usually, muffling involves wrapping something around or putting something over a noisy thing. Muffling dampens, tones down, deadens, and dulls. Also, if you hold down your emotions and don't express them, you're muffling them. Muffling keeps things quiet.

Example Sentences

State said China had used a technique known as decoupling to muffle the register and evade detection.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 22, 2026

I watched as the woman cuffed the phone receiver, attempting, ironically, to muffle the private information she was giving to a 13-year-old.

From Slate • Dec. 12, 2023

Neustadter, an executive producer here as well, notes, “When we meet Clare in our series, she’s trying to muffle her pain, but it’s always with her.”

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 21, 2023

They're so, so loud that it doesn't matter where you turn it on or try to muffle it, it's just super loud.

From Salon • Mar. 7, 2023

And both sisters dived into their pillows, trying to muffle their giggles.

From "Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story" by Nora Raleigh Baskin

Related Words

• dampen
• deaden
• envelop
• hush
• mute
• muzzle
• soft pedal
• squelch
• stifle
• subdue
• tone down