Sami used a pillow to muffle the sound of his gun.
Source: tatoeba (6696337)
Muffle
/mʌfl̩/
Synonyms for "muffle" (178 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (36)
Strong matches (53)
Related words (89)
nosenostrilnostrilsnozzleobduceobscureoccultolfactory organoverlayoverspreadpeckerproboscisprotectput onput to silencequashquietquietenquietenerrepress
Show 47 more words
rhinariumrostrumschnozzlescreenscumshieldshroudshushshut downshut down onsilencesilence clothsilencersit onsmellersmothersnootsnoutsoft pedalsoft-pedalsoftensordinesordinosound-absorbing materialsoundproofingsoundproofing insulationsourdinespread oversquashsquelchstiflestillstopstranglestrike dumbsubduesuperimposesuperposesuppressswaddleswathethrottletone downtrunkveilwrapwrap up
Noun(10 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: acoustic tile, antiknock, antlia, apply, apply to.
- Sentence evidence is available for muffle, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, opengloss, wordnet, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "muffle".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "muffle"
Keep "muffle" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "muffle" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "muffle", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "muffle" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
8 entriesMore specific
8 entriesCollocations
11 entriesInflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriesSample sentences
10 total sentences available.
Yanni tried to muffle Skura's scream.
Source: tatoeba (9995491)
N.B.—Mr Broughton proposes, with proper assistance, to open an academy at his house in the Haymarket, for the instruction of those who are willing to be initiated in the mystery of boxing: […] muffles are provided, that will effectually secure them from the inconveniency of black eyes, broken jaws, and bloody noses.
Source: wiktionary
Between the two pulleys c, c¹, and around the shaft a, is a muffle d, which receives at both ends the rounded heads of three, four, five, or more screws f, which act as levers. The levers are formed of a right and lefthanded screw, f, and f¹. The two screws are united together by means of a nut g, so that, by turning it, they are lengthened or shortened. The heads of the upper screws f¹, act upon the blocks e, e¹, contained in boxes supported by the plates h, h¹, through the centre of which passes the shaft a. These plates h, h¹, are fixed on the shaft a; they are of a smaller diameter than the inside of the pulleys c, c¹; their object is to keep the blocks e, e¹, from twisting. By moving the muffle d, to the left, the levers or screws f, f, will force the blocks e, to bear against the inside of the pulley c, placed on that side. The motion of this pulley will cause the muffle d, and consequently the shaft a, to revolve. By pushing the muffle d, on the opposite side, the blocks e, will depress the pulley c, and the blocks e¹, will bear against the pulley c¹, the band of which being crossed, will cause the shaft a, to revolve in a reverse direction. This shaft being furnished with a pinion, will transmit to a toothed wheel or rack, a motion in both directions at the desired instant, since it is only necessary to give the muffle d, a lateral movement from right to left, or from left to right, by means of a fork which acts on the part b. By placing the muffle d, half way between the two pullies c, and c¹, the blocks e, and e¹, will release the said pullies, and the shaft a, will be motionless. The patentee claims, ”the characteristic principle of the mechanical combination herein described, applicable to all cases where it may be useful, by varying the shapes or dimensions according to the power of the machines to which they may be applied.”
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 10 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "muffle"?
Closest matches include acoustic tile, antiknock, antlia, apply, apply to.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "muffle"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.