muff
Americannoun
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muffs
plural
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a thick, tubular case for the hands, covered with fur or other material, used by women and girls for warmth and as a handbag.
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a bungled or clumsy action or performance.
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Sports. a failure to hold onto a ball that may reasonably be expected to be caught successfully.
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a tuft of feathers on the sides of the head of certain fowls.
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Slang: Vulgar. a woman's pubic area.
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muff glass
verb (used with object)
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muffs,
present (3rd person singular)
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muffed,
past participle, past
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muffing
present participle
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Informal. to bungle; handle clumsily.
He muffed a good opportunity.
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Sports. to fail to hold onto (a ball that may reasonably be expected to be caught successfully); fumble.
verb (used without object)
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muffs,
present (3rd person singular)
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muffed,
past participle, past
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muffing
present participle
verb
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to perform (an action) awkwardly
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(tr) to bungle (a shot, catch, etc) in a game
noun
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any unskilful play in a game, esp a dropped catch
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any clumsy or bungled action
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a bungler
noun
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an open-ended cylinder of fur or cloth into which the hands are placed for warmth
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the tuft on either side of the head of certain fowls
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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muffsimple
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muffssimple
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have muffedperfect
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has muffedperfect
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am muffingprogressive
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are muffingprogressive
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is muffingprogressive
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have been muffingperfect progressive
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has been muffingperfect progressive
Past
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muffedsimple
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had muffedperfect
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was muffingprogressive
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were muffingprogressive
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had been muffingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of muff
1590–1600; < Dutch mof, earlier moffel, muffel mitten, muff < Old North French moufle < early Medieval Latin muffula, perhaps < Frankish
Vocabulary lists containing muff
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Meanwhile, the strength of a brand like “60 Minutes” is its ability to plow through heavy seas emanating from corporate politics—that is, unless overly entitled employees muff it up.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026
In 1914, the suffragist Mary Richardson walked into the National Gallery with a hatchet concealed in her muff, then slashed a Velázquez nude in protest against the imprisonment of Emmeline Pankhurst.
From New York Times ● Jul. 6, 2022
The Chiefs managed to hop on the muff for a fresh set of downs.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 5, 2021
A muff on a would-be punt return by the Chiefs’ Mecole Hardman was quickly turned into a touchdown by the Bills and a 9-0 lead at Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 24, 2021
Billy closed it, took a hand from his muff, touched a stove.
From "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut
The Venezuelan leader had on what appeared to be noise-canceling ear muffs and grey Nike-branded sweatpants and jacket.
From Barron's ● Jan. 3, 2026
But when, against all odds, he seemingly achieves his goal, he muffs it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 27, 2025
And keep your ears cozy with ear muffs or a hat.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 19, 2024
Seated not far away was M.B.Z., in his white tunic and ear-protection muffs, alongside his wife and an empty third chair reserved for Clarke.
From New York Times ● Jan. 9, 2020
Eye nudged Ear, who shifted his muffs to listen over the boom box.
From "The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm" by Nancy Farmer
The Lancers muffed a punt and made several penalties to keep Sierra Canyon drives alive.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
Players pray as they always have: for protection from injury, from the embarrassment of a missed tackle or muffed punt, to impress their homecoming date or to attract the attention of scouts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
With Freddie Freeman standing on second base, after a leadoff double against Padres right-hander Randy Vásquez, Muncy hit a sharp grounder to second baseman Will Wagner, who muffed the play.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 28, 2026
The Crimson Tide had touchdown drives of 44 and 55 yards, the first of which came after a muffed punt and the latter following the third of four Wolverine three-and-outs.
From Washington Times ● Jan. 2, 2024
My mouth is dry, hands hard against my muffed ears.
From "Muffled" by Jennifer Gennari
To that point, his signature moment in October might have been muffing a routine fly ball in the decisive Game 5 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers last fall.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2025
Down 24-15, Cleveland sealed its fate by botching an onside kick and muffing a punt — unforgivable against any team, death sentences against Belichick.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 17, 2022
The star receiver and returner was mad at himself for muffing a punt and not performing as well as he thought he should on offense.
From Washington Times ● Sep. 26, 2017
Tavon Austin looks to bounce back after muffing a punt last week.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2017
“And don’t you go muffing them with the landing-net, Jack, as you generally do,” said p. 34his Royal Highness, as he lit his bedroom candle.
From Prince Ricardo of Pantouflia being the adventures of Prince Prigio's son by Gordon Browne
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
