as in muttering
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Dissimilar Words
as in murmuring
to speak softly and unclearly
I can't understand you if you mumble
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Recent Examples of mumbling
Sonal Dutt, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
Deborah Sengupta Stith, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026
But between the copy-paste pessimism and lovesick mumbling, there’s a handful of artists on the edge of the underground rewiring guitars in inventive ways.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 27 Aug. 2025
Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 17 May 2026
McKellen can make a terrific meal out of just a few grunts and groans, spending whole scenes mumbling about nothing in particular; meanwhile, Coel comes across as impenetrable, yet alluringly so.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
The van’s speakers played a high-volume mashup of construction sounds, Jordan Peterson lectures, Marine Corps drills, and mumbling voices.
—Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Jackson allegedly appeared to be in a highly agitated state and was moving erratically and mumbling, police body camera footage shows.
—Kellie Love, Hartford Courant, 26 Mar. 2026
Mustafa said as the man trotted down the stairs, mumbling something—a prayer, a curse.
—Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Atlanta police officers responding to the scene found Leon sitting on the ground in handcuffs, acting belligerently and attempting to stand while mumbling.
—Cbs News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
Tomorrow morning, New Yorkers across the five boroughs will be nursing their hangovers, mumbling bacon, egg, and cheese orders—and welcoming a new mayor.
—Jocelyn Silver, Vogue, 31 Dec. 2025
After Carol Burnett’s Norma spent much of season one mumbling or unconscious in the background, Sylvia wanted her front and center, driving action in season two.
—Trey Williams, HollywoodReporter, 14 Dec. 2025
Adjective
The stop-motion digital series about a jolly, mumbling, pint-size cook serves up a big slice of serotonin.
—Sonal Dutt, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
Noun
And in between, garbled Irish mumbling.
—Deborah Sengupta Stith, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026
But between the copy-paste pessimism and lovesick mumbling, there’s a handful of artists on the edge of the underground rewiring guitars in inventive ways.
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 27 Aug. 2025
Verb
The mumbling back and forth in the cage after the fight was the true highlight of the fight.
—Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 17 May 2026
McKellen can make a terrific meal out of just a few grunts and groans, spending whole scenes mumbling about nothing in particular; meanwhile, Coel comes across as impenetrable, yet alluringly so.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
The van’s speakers played a high-volume mashup of construction sounds, Jordan Peterson lectures, Marine Corps drills, and mumbling voices.
—Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Jackson allegedly appeared to be in a highly agitated state and was moving erratically and mumbling, police body camera footage shows.
—Kellie Love, Hartford Courant, 26 Mar. 2026
Mustafa said as the man trotted down the stairs, mumbling something—a prayer, a curse.
—Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Atlanta police officers responding to the scene found Leon sitting on the ground in handcuffs, acting belligerently and attempting to stand while mumbling.
—Cbs News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
Tomorrow morning, New Yorkers across the five boroughs will be nursing their hangovers, mumbling bacon, egg, and cheese orders—and welcoming a new mayor.
—Jocelyn Silver, Vogue, 31 Dec. 2025
After Carol Burnett’s Norma spent much of season one mumbling or unconscious in the background, Sylvia wanted her front and center, driving action in season two.
—Trey Williams, HollywoodReporter, 14 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mumbling
Noun
-
Instability in the environment is weak across the region, which will reduce the potential for thunderstorms to an occasional rumble of thunder.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
22 May 2026
-
There is only a low 20% chance of a shower or rumble of thunder, mainly south and east of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.—
Damien Lodes,
CBS News,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
From a long-quiet wingman who dispensed with six years of muttering under his breath and spoke with a cold-blooded certainty that announced his arrival as a force to be reckoned with.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
-
On Tuesday, cameras caught Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing muttering something after looking back at the Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee, who was in discomfort after an awkward slide at home plate.—
Bill Shaikin,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Not just any type of bus, but a marshrutka—a crowded, rumbling, claustrophobic Soviet holdover minibus, solidly built with steel girding and equally lacking in shock absorbers and seat padding.—
Irene Zabytko
May 7,
Literary Hub,
7 May 2026
-
But in some of these older buildings, there could be low rumbling pipes [producing infrasound], and if somebody already has the expectation that something spooky might happen, the infrasound might drive that a bit.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Only the sputtering right engine remained to provide sporadic thrust and to power some flight controls.—
James Glanz,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
-
This one required extra innings and undid a late surge by their sputtering offense.—
Matt Kawahara,
Houston Chronicle,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Shockwaves on prices and murmuring of massive layoffs abound at cocktail parties and in discussions with retail and brand executives alike.—
Greg Petro,
Forbes.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
There’s a way to use vocoder and elicit emotion—see Bon Iver or Rosalía—but MORI’s technique shrinks the warmth of his bari-bass to a barely intelligible mumble.—
E.R. Pulgar,
Pitchfork,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The visitors’ locker room inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium was silent, not even a mumble.—
Nicki Jhabvala,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Riverwork’s apparent arc is one of oblivion—like pressing an ear to the murmur and purl of an undercurrent.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 May 2026
-
Most other acts by those of a Wolves persuasion barely generated a murmur, and the lap of appreciation by head coach Rob Edwards brought more than a smattering of boos.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mumbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mumbling. Accessed 26 May. 2026.
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