muffledmuf‧fled /ˈmʌfəld/ adjective 
Examples
I could hear muffled voices in the next room. There was the muffled sound of organ practice coming from the chapel.► see thesaurus at quiet
ExamplesEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- His voice was muffled, "I'm in the bathroom. I'm stuck.''
- the muffled yells of children at play
- We heard muffled shouts and screams from the bar below.
- A muffled thump from below, somewhere at the foot of the stairs.
- Celia got up and followed her into the kitchen, and there were muffled sounds of crying.
- It began with muffled voices that meant nothing.
- Somehow the dimness made my footsteps sound muffled, timid.
- Standing to one side, the sound is muffled and boomy.
- The sound of breaking glass - muffled remonstrations.
- There was some clicking, and then the muffled sound of a human voice making its usual incomprehensible noises.
- Water Gypsy had definitely moved at her moorings, and now there were muffled sounds of movement.
THESAURUSa quiet sound or voice► quiet
Collocations not making a loud sound: · I heard a quiet voice behind me.· a car with a quiet engine
► low quiet – especially because you do not want people to hear or be disturbed: · Doug was on the phone, speaking in a low voice.· I turned the volume down low.
► soft quiet and pleasant to listen to: · Soft music was playing in the background.· His voice was soft and gentle.
► silent not making any sound at all: · a silent prayer· silent laughter· The machines were virtually silent.
► hushed deliberately quiet because you do not want people to hear – used about people’s voices: · They were talking about money in hushed tones.· The doctor’s voice was hushed and urgent.
► faint quiet and difficult to hear because it comes from a long way away: · The men went ahead and their voices got fainter and fainter.· the faint sound of bells
► muffled difficult to hear, for example because the sound comes from another room or someone’s mouth is covered by something: · Muffled voices were coming from downstairs.· the muffled sound of someone crying
► dull [only before noun] a dull sound is not loud – used especially about the sound of something hitting another thing: · He hit the ground with a dull thud.
► inaudible too quiet to hear: · The sound is inaudible to the human ear.· Her answer came in an almost inaudible whisper.
Longman Language Activatorwords for describing music, sounds, or voices that are quiet► quiet quiet sounds, voices, or music are not loud: · He spoke in a quiet yet confident voice.· There was a quiet knock at the door.
► low a low voice or sound is quiet and deep: · A low humming noise was coming from the refrigerator.in a low voice (=speaking quietly): · 'Take care,' he said in a low voice.
► soft soft sounds, voices, or music are quiet, gentle, and pleasant: · He spoke with a soft Irish accent.· a whisper so soft that I could scarcely hear it· With candlelight and soft music, you can create a romantic atmosphere in your own home.
► muffled muffled voices or sounds are quiet and unclear, especially because they come from behind a wall or door: · We heard muffled shouts and screams from the bar below.· His voice was muffled, "I'm in the bathroom. I'm stuck."
► hushed a hushed voice, conversation, crowd etc is intentionally quiet, for example because someone is afraid of being heard or because they are waiting for some important news: · Two men in dark suits were having a hushed conversation in the corner.· A hushed congress heard the official declaration of war.· She spoke in a hushed whisper, "I think my husband knows about us."
► faint a faint sound is quiet and difficult to hear, especially because it comes from a long way away : · Jean opened the window, and heard the faint sound of the bells drifting across the Old Town.· The men went away, and we could hear their voices get fainter and fainter.· There was silence for a moment as they held each other's eyes, broken only by the faint sound of dance music from down below.
► inaudible formal inaudible sounds are so quiet that you cannot hear them: · Her voice was so faint, it was almost inaudible.· Michael went bright red, and muttering something inaudible, he walked out of the room.· Aunt Jessica let out an inaudible sigh.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES► a muffled cry
muffled sounds cannot be heard clearly, for example because they come from behind a door or wall SYN indistinct: (=that cannot be heard clearly)· I thought I heard a muffled cry from somewhere in the building.
► a muffled explosion (=one that is not heard very clearly)· We could just make out a muffled explosion from deep inside the mine.
► a muffled/stifled scream (=made quieter, for example by putting a hand over someone’s mouth)· No one heard her muffled screams.
► a muffled sound (=not clear)· Now there were muffled sounds of movement.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN► sound· Quinn stayed awake, straining to identify the muffled sounds from upstairs.· There was some clicking, and then the muffled sound of a human voice making its usual incomprehensible noises.· Water Gypsy had definitely moved at her moorings, and now there were muffled sounds of movement.· From below he heard shouting and running feet, and from further off came the muffled sound of more gunfire.· Celia got up and followed her into the kitchen, and there were muffled sounds of crying.· He could hear the muffled sound of the train as it plodded round the curves.· He listened intently, heard nothing immediate, only the muffled sound of a radio or television from another room.· Now and then the long-muzzled heads would lift, pointed ears erect, at the muffled sound of distant gunshots.
► voice· It began with muffled voices that meant nothing.· After the third knocking a light went on in Jessie's room; then there was the sound of muffled voices.· The muffled voice behind the door sank at last into hopeless silence.
I could hear muffled voices in the next room. There was the muffled sound of organ practice coming from the chapel.► see thesaurus at quiet