1
as in whine
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment
finished the tedious job without a murmur
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in muttering
speech that is not clear enough to be understood
could just barely hear the murmurs of the audience
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to complain
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
no prisoner dared murmur out loud
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to mutter
to speak softly and unclearly
a college professor who tends to murmur
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of murmur
Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Feb. 2026
Most abnormal congenital heart defects tend to cause a murmur, so these should be evaluated by a cardiologist.
—Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 2 Feb. 2026
Colin Joyce, Pitchfork, 28 Jan. 2026
Tess murmurs, having had no idea that Alex, who works in finance, has started moonlighting in standup.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for murmur
Noun
Sometimes there were murmurs around the police station from older officers about what Binion got up to back in the day.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Feb. 2026
Most abnormal congenital heart defects tend to cause a murmur, so these should be evaluated by a cardiologist.
—Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 2 Feb. 2026
Verb
Rarely have Hunt’s compositions felt so jittery and full of life as the title track, which blooms from murmuring drones into shimmering bokehs of synth programming.
—Colin Joyce, Pitchfork, 28 Jan. 2026
Tess murmurs, having had no idea that Alex, who works in finance, has started moonlighting in standup.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for murmur
Recent Examples of Synonyms for murmur
Noun
-
No suspicious whine in the air, no burning of pungent oils to put off biters.—
Antonia Quirke,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
-
These are no longer the days of whine and turned-up noses.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
30 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The large Sunbridge development is planned nearby, but there are no current residents anywhere near it to complain.—
Ryan Gillespie,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Mar. 2026
-
But Kesselman said his sister had unbelievable courage and never complained.—
Natalie McMillan,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In fact, the director was egging me on, encouraging me to go further with the hunching and muttering.—
Andrew Martin,
Vogue,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Old friend Daniel Vladar was spectacular in making 26 saves, several of which had Morgan Geekie (nine total shots, five on net, two blocked, two misses) muttering to himself.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The default ruling means that Rourke failed to take action to defend against the eviction complaint within the time allowed by law.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The complaint requested that the judge find the administration’s policy violates the First and Fifth Amendments and bar it from being implemented.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Katie Von Schleicher, another quietly hypnotic singer-songwriter, lends some light synth and background vocals to West’s compositions, while Nate Mendelsohn blows breath into some single, whisper-quiet saxophone lines.—
Jayson Greene,
Pitchfork,
3 Mar. 2026
-
For the past six months, whispers of a federal investigation echoed inside and around City Hall, the 29-story skyscraper in downtown Kansas City.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The immaculate slouchiness of this pullover screams spring in the best way, especially when paired with a denim skirt or barrel jeans.—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Hallways filled with screaming kids?—
Stephan Bisaha,
NPR,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Meanwhile, everyone is still running around like the Keystone Kops chasing Billie, passing an old lady in a bed eating Jell-O who mumbles something in Diné.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Feb. 2026
-
One of the reporters said Bad Bunny often mumbled through the expletives or cut off the word entirely in the show.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Under Hiller, the Kings went into the Olympic break with a whimper and came out of it with a moan.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
1 Mar. 2026
-
The moans announced the doubt throughout Riviera’s 18th green amphitheater, a bowl full of thousands of fans unsure if the new guy could do it.—
Brody Miller,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Murmur.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/murmur. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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