What is another name for a silencer?

A silencer is commonly referred to as a muffler in the context of automotive and machinery applications. The primary function of a muffler is to reduce the noise produced by the engine's exhaust gases as they exit the vehicle. It achieves this by employing various internal structures and sound-absorbing materials to dampen sound waves, ultimately leading to a quieter operation.

In contrast, while an exhaust pipe, resonator, and catalytic converter are related components of an exhaust system, they serve different purposes. An exhaust pipe carries the exhaust gases away from the engine, a resonator fine-tunes the sound of the exhaust but does not provide the same level of noise reduction, and a catalytic converter is designed to reduce harmful emissions rather than noise. Thus, muffler is the most accurate term synonymous with silencer in this context.