mule
3 synonyms for mule, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The offspring of a male donkey and a female horse, typically sterile and known for being sure-footed and stubborn.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Missouri canary
scuff
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
The offspring of a male donkey and a female horse, typically sterile and known for being sure-footed and stubborn.
“The farmer used a mule to carry supplies up the mountain trail.”
Missouri canary
scuff
How to use mule
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
stubborn as a mule
drug mule
Etymology
From Latin mulus, via Old English mul and Anglo-Norman mule.
Full origin of mule →Frequently asked questions
What does “mule” mean?
The word “mule” means the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse, typically sterile and known for being sure-footed and stubborn. In plain terms, a horse-donkey hybrid animal, a stubborn person, a drug smuggler, or a backless shoe — several unrelated senses share this one word.
How do you pronounce “mule”?
“Mule” is pronounced myool (/mjuːl/ in IPA).
How do you use “mule” in a sentence?
Here is “mule” used in a sentence: “The farmer used a mule to carry supplies up the mountain trail.”
What is another word for “mule”?
Words with a similar meaning to “mule” include Missouri canary.
What part of speech is “mule”?
“Mule” is a noun.
Where does the word “mule” come from?
The word “mule” comes from Latin. From Latin mulus, via Old English mul and Anglo-Norman mule.
Is “mule” a common word?
“Mule” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “mule” have?
“Mule” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse, typically sterile and known for being sure-footed and stubborn.
