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🔇 Made quieter 🧣 Wrapped up
muffled

muffled

40 3.7
A sound made quieter and less clear by something covering or blocking it
  • adjective
  • /ˈmʌfəl/
translation icon : amortiguado
  • There is a low sound of a muffled blast that stops them all.

Hey, yeah, you're a little like muffled, but I can hear you.

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Examples

  • After the door closed, I could only hear her muffled voice through the walls.

  • You'll just hear some muffled sounds, things like that.

  • His voice was so muffled that I could barely make out the words.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • The air is filled with the muffled sounds of the street.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • From under the covers came a muffled and surprised, "How did you know?"

    Academic text (2007)

  • At that moment, they heard a muffled explosion, and Grant put the papers aside.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • The voice was deep and muffled, and she didn't have to struggle to remain still.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • The room was quiet and peaceful, save for the muffled sounds of her own weeping.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • As he rounded the street corner and slipped from sight, their muffled laughter broke the stillness.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • In the far distance, they heard the muffled sound of a refrigerant compressor switching on in a lab.

    Fiction book (1991)

Synonyms

hushed
vsmuffled
22 4.1

Very quiet in a careful, respectful, or secret way

is quieter and less distinct because something blocks or covers the sound
muted
vsmuffled
19 4.0

Sound that is softer and quieter than usual

is quieter and less distinct because something blocks or covers the sound
dull
vsmuffled
15 1.6

A pain that is not sharp and not strong

is quieter and less distinct because something blocks or covers the sound
thudding
vsmuffled
4.7

A heavy, dull sound you can feel as a low beat

is quieter and less distinct because something blocks or covers the sound
softened
vsmuffled
3.3

Made less strong, harsh, or loud

is quieter and less distinct because something blocks or covers the sound

Antonyms

clear
∞ 1.0

Easy to understand and not confusing

How Clear

clear
∞ 1.0
muted
19 4.0
muffled
40 3.7
inaudible
274 5.6

Surface Forms

muffled positive

Morphology

muffled = muffle (transparent) = muffle + ed

The adjective is the regular past-participle/adjectival form of the verb 'muffle' and directly means 'made quieter or covered'.

Etymology

Muffled comes from the idea of a muff, a soft cover for the hands, and is the same root as muffler, which also makes sounds 'quieter'. To 'muffle' something is to cover or block the sound, so a muffled sound is softer and hard to hear.