as in muttering
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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
Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 27 Aug. 2025
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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mumbling
Noun
-
There was a low rumble that vibrated for a second or two, then faded away.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
-
After an ominous rumble, four holographic figures apparated, then sat in their virtual chairs, facing me.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But the bad news is that outside of a mutual prisoner exchange, both sides walked away muttering the same old positions.—
Daniel DePetris,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The volume has gone up again since Ruben Amorim’s recent departure, muttering darkly about Gary Neville’s outside influence in particular.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
17 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In daytime, the rumbling of the steppe is subsumed by bright, relentless light.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Jan. 2026
-
There were rumblings and comments in the spring and fall that Toney would be an early starter, but who could have predicted what happened?—
Adam Lichtenstein,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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On a mission to turn around the governor’s sputtering presidential campaign, Uthmeier was asked about his boss’s performance in a Republican debate that had just ended.—
Dan Sullivan,
Miami Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
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Some signs that the carburetor is clogged on a snow blower are starting then dying a few seconds afterward, jerking, sputtering noises, and black smoke emitting from the exhaust.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
1 Feb. 2026
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
-
People from that world tell me Youngblood spoke in a low, confidential murmur, flashed military tattoos, and dropped hints about tours in Afghanistan and secret government work.—
Matthew Bremner,
Rolling Stone,
11 Feb. 2026
-
That was reflected on the ice for much of his first season, too, when the murmurs were many.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mumbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mumbling. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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