muzzle
2 synonyms and 1 antonym for muzzle, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — An animal's nose and mouth area, or a strap-on device fitted over it to stop biting or eating.
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.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
An animal's nose and mouth area, or a strap-on device fitted over it to stop biting or eating.
“The dog's muzzle twitched at the smell of food.”
2. verb
To stop someone from speaking freely or expressing an opinion; to silence.
“Critics accused the government of trying to muzzle the press.”
Opposites
How to use muzzle
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French musel/museau, ultimately from Late Latin mūsus ("snout") — the same root that gives French museau today.
Full origin of muzzle →