Muzzle: meaning, example and synonyms
Muzzlev. To restrain someone from expressing opinions freely; to censor.
Example
The regime tried to muzzle independent newspapers by revoking the license of any editor who questioned its economic policies.
- Part of speech
- verb
- Synonyms
- silence, gag, censor, suppress
- Antonyms
- liberate, embolden, give voice to
- Memory tip
- A muzzle covers a dog's mouth; muzzling a person stops them speaking.
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Check yourself: Muzzle in context
Fearing public criticism, the ministry sought to ______ its own scientists, forbidding them to speak to reporters about the pollution data without official approval.
Answer: muzzle. Forbidding scientists to speak freely is to muzzle them. Amass (gather), concur (agree) and misconstrue (misinterpret) don't fit this context.
Press-freedom advocates warned that the vaguely worded law could be used to ______ any journalist who reported on corruption, since it let officials shut down outlets without a hearing.
Answer: muzzle. Shutting down outlets to stop reporting would muzzle journalists. Concur (agree), intercede (plead for another) and amass (gather) don't fit this context.