as in muttering
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as in murmuring
to speak softly and unclearly
I can't understand you if you mumble
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mumbling
Sonal Dutt, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 27 Aug. 2025
Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 6 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
After whispering and mumbling my way through the ceremony, I was handed the scroll.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2025
Of all the sins that might damn your soul for eternity, mumbling is probably pretty far down the list.
—JSTOR Daily, 31 Oct. 2025
The character in question, Charlie Saxton's Damon Drecker, had a remarkably similar haircut to Samberg's mumbling rapper.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Oct. 2025
During the video, the person can be heard mumbling and breathing heavily.
—Claudia Lauer, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025
So meagre, my wife, the one sitting next to her, kept mumbling, ‘Is this it?
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 6 Aug. 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
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 girl was found on the floor mumbling and spitting up blood, according to the warrant affidavit.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 6 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
After whispering and mumbling my way through the ceremony, I was handed the scroll.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2025
Of all the sins that might damn your soul for eternity, mumbling is probably pretty far down the list.
—JSTOR Daily, 31 Oct. 2025
The character in question, Charlie Saxton's Damon Drecker, had a remarkably similar haircut to Samberg's mumbling rapper.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Oct. 2025
During the video, the person can be heard mumbling and breathing heavily.
—Claudia Lauer, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2025
So meagre, my wife, the one sitting next to her, kept mumbling, ‘Is this it?
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mumbling
Noun
-
Nix rolled right, threw him the ball and then watched the 6-foot-8, 315-pounder rumble into the end zone.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
18 Jan. 2026
-
The daytime temperature in Kyiv, which has endured freezing temperatures for more than two weeks, was about 10 degrees Fahrenheit, with streets covered in ice and the rumble of generators heard throughout the capital.—
Illia Novikov,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The camera then turns to James Austin Johnson, who played the president, sleeping and muttering New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s name.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Dec. 2025
-
On the plane, Dick clutches the slingshot and begins sweating and muttering to himself before becoming unresponsive.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
There have been rumblings that things could be turning for the better, particularly after Harry recently met with his father, King Charles.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
3 Jan. 2026
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Cowboy and cowgirl hoots and hollers complement the rumbling of the massive animals’ hooves as they’re rounded up into the corrals.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
The climate alarm machine—powered by the twin engines of moral panic and groupthink homogeneity—is sputtering.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Dec. 2025
-
Flat out, when the Bills’ offense was sputtering, the defense stole the game right from the Steelers’ grasp.—
Joe Buscaglia,
New York Times,
1 Dec. 2025
Noun
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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
-
The visitors’ locker room inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium was silent, not even a mumble.—
Nicki Jhabvala,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
When Kuminga removed his sweats, walked to the scorer’s table and checked in to begin the second quarter Tuesday night, a murmur grew into a modest standing ovation as the fans inside Chase Center realized what was happening.—
Evan Webeck,
Mercury News,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Outside, the marinas become villages — food stalls, shaded lounges, the steady murmur of deals being courted.—
Eric Barton,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mumbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mumbling. Accessed 25 Jan. 2026.
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