Illustration of muzzle
- muzzle 2a
1
: the projecting jaws and nose of an animal : snout
2
a
: a fastening or covering for the mouth of an animal used to prevent eating or biting
b
: something (such as censorship) that restrains normal expression
3
: the open end of an implement
especially
: the discharging end of a weapon
Examples of muzzle in a Sentence
Verb
a dangerous dog that should be muzzled
attempts by the government to muzzle the press
The company has tried to muzzle its employees by forbidding them to speak to the press.
Recent Examples on the Web
Alec Johnson, jsonline.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Second, Henze is not afraid to use a muzzle to manage her pups.
—Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025
Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2025
Unsurprisingly, the government is muzzling criticism.
—M. Rajshekhar, Time, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for muzzle
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Noun
Federal law requires toy, look-alike and imitation firearms to have an orange colored cap attached to the muzzle end of the barrel and exterior surface of the barrel, among other requirements.
—Alec Johnson, jsonline.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Second, Henze is not afraid to use a muzzle to manage her pups.
—Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
The networks muzzle themselves at their own risk.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2025
Unsurprisingly, the government is muzzling criticism.
—M. Rajshekhar, Time, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for muzzle
Cite this Entry
“Muzzle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/muzzle. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
muzzle
2 of 2 verb
muzzled; muzzling
ˈməz-(ə-)liŋ 
1
: to put a muzzle on
2
: to prevent free or normal expression by : gag
the dictator muzzled the press
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