had been muzzling

• past perfect progressive

  past perfect progressive

  Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.

  of muzzle.
  muzzle

  noun

  the mouth, or end for discharge, of the barrel of a gun, pistol, etc.

Related Words

• censor
• choke
• clamp down on
• crack down on
• muffle
• repress
• restrain
• squelch
• stifle
• suppress