Everything he hears now is distant and strangely muffled.

The blast was strangely muffled in the thin air.

There was a deep booming sound, strangely muffled, seemingly from the center of the earth itself.

His voice came back at him, strangely muffled.

But that life was far away and strangely muffled, and he had no strength to reach for it, or the desire.

The sounds came strangely muffled as the compound was destroyed from within.

The sound was strangely muffled in the woods.

A yell of rage from the car, strangely muffled.

His words sounded strangely muffled but the other raised a hand to show that he had understood.

Ten seconds later another explosion, more powerful but still strangely muffled.