muffle

/ˈmʌfl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmʌfl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmə-fəl/ (ame, mw)

muffle — verb

  • mufflepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • muffleshe / she / it
  • muffledpast simple
  • muffling-ing form

1. to stop a sound from being clearly heard, usually by covering or blocking its so

1.動詞及物B1
釋義

to stop a sound from being clearly heard, usually by covering or blocking its source

例句

The thick walls muffled the noise from the street outside.

muffle + noise as direct object

Zuri covered her mouth to muffle her cough during the meeting.

同義詞
  • deaden

    stronger — suggests making the sound almost disappear entirely

  • dampen

    gentler — reduces volume without fully blocking it

  • soften

    focuses on making a sound less harsh, not necessarily quieter

反義詞
  • amplify

    to make a sound louder or stronger

文法句型

muffle + noun phrase (sound, noise, cough, voice)

常見錯誤

❌I muffled the alarm clock.
✅I muffled the sound of the alarm clock.
💡muffle targets the sound itself, not the object making it.

2. to reduce the strength or intensity of something such as light, heat, or a feeli

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

to reduce the strength or intensity of something such as light, heat, or a feeling so that it is less powerful

例句

The heavy curtains muffled the bright light coming through the window.

Niran took a long breath to muffle his growing frustration.

muffle + emotion noun (frustration, anger, excitement)

同義詞
  • diminish

    more general — can apply to any quality or quantity

  • reduce

    simpler and broader in meaning

  • moderate

    implies bringing to a reasonable level, not just lowering

反義詞
  • intensify

    to make something stronger or more powerful

文法句型

muffle + noun phrase (light, heat, pain, frustration)

用法筆記

Commonly used with physical phenomena (light, heat, sound) and, less often, with strong emotions to mean 'make less intense' — distinguish from sense 4, which means 'prevent from being expressed at all.'

3. to cover yourself with thick or warm clothing in order to protect your body from

3.動詞及物B2
釋義

to cover yourself with thick or warm clothing in order to protect your body from very cold weather

例句

The children were muffled up in coats and scarves for the snow.

passive: be muffled up in [clothing]

Henrik muffled himself up in a thick winter jacket before going out.

同義詞
  • wrap up

    informal, more common in everyday speech

  • bundle up

    informal, similar meaning to wrap up warmly

反義詞
  • uncover

    to remove covering or clothing

文法句型

muffle oneself up / be muffled up (in + clothing)

用法筆記

Almost always used reflexively ('muffle yourself up') or in the passive ('muffled up'). The particle 'up' is very common with this sense.

常見錯誤

❌I muffled my coat.
✅I muffled myself up in my coat.
💡muffle needs a reflexive pronoun or passive form with this meaning, not a direct object of clothing.

4. to stop something such as emotions, opinions, or information from being expresse

4.動詞及物C1
釋義

to stop something such as emotions, opinions, or information from being expressed, heard, or spread

例句

The government tried to muffle reports about the protest from the media.

muffle + reports/news as direct object

Rafael could not muffle his excitement when he heard the news.

同義詞
  • suppress

    stronger and more formal; implies active effort to stop something

  • stifle

    suggests preventing something from developing or being expressed

  • conceal

    focuses on hiding, not necessarily stopping the thing itself

反義詞
  • express

    to show or communicate a feeling or opinion

  • reveal

    to make something known that was hidden

文法句型

muffle + noun phrase (emotions, information, reports)

用法筆記

Often used with nouns referring to information, opinions, reports, or emotions that someone wants to keep hidden or unexpressed. Distinguish from sense 2, which means 'make less intense' rather than 'prevent expression entirely.'

常見錯誤

❌She muffled her tears.
✅She tried to muffle her sobs.
💡muffle is used for audible expressions (sobs, cries) or things that can be spread (reports, opinions), not for visible signs of emotion like tears.