murmur 1 of 2

noun

ˈmər-mər How to pronounce murmur (audio)
Definition of murmurnext
1
as in whine
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment finished the tedious job without a murmur

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2
as in muttering
speech that is not clear enough to be understood could just barely hear the murmurs of the audience

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murmur

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to complain
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely no prisoner dared murmur out loud

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2
as in to mutter
to speak softly and unclearly a college professor who tends to murmur

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of murmur
Noun
For weeks, there have been murmurs in DC about a coming White House move to address the inevitability of powerful, open-source Chinese AI models being used by people and businesses across the globe. — Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 15 July 2026 Happy murmurs moved through the room whenever the Tour passed a place someone recognised, turning the stage into a shared travelogue. — Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 15 July 2026
Verb
Someone murmured something about bacon and eggs being more appropriate at this time of day. — Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026 Then Bryce Eldridge stepped to the plate and the crowd began to murmur. — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for murmur
Recent Examples of Synonyms for murmur
  1. whine
  2. muttering
  3. complain
  4. mutter
  5. complaint
  6. whisper
  7. scream
  8. mumble
Noun
  • The mystic whine of Christine Ott and Mathieu Gabry’s score carries us into a hidden world of ancient Thai deities living inside the mountain’s caves and tunnels.
    — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Meanwhile, turbo noise fills the cabin alongside the odd electric motor whine.
    — Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of whine
Noun
  • From the first take to the last, the scene evolves quite dramatically, and the final take is the one that most closely resembles the scene in the finished episode (though, sadly, Ned’s introductory muttering seems to have been cut for time).
    — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The opportunity to send a raucous Bell Centre crowd home muttering was there in Game 3.
    — Eduardo A. Encina, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026
Definition of muttering
Verb
  • Toward the end of first grade, Najya started complaining about lunchtime chaos in the cafeteria.
    — Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Patients, their families and lawyers have complained that Kaiser’s private and confidential system of handling medical malpractice complaints is designed to favor the health plan over those bringing the claims.
    — Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of complain
Verb
  • Heti stared at the drawing in front of her and muttered whatever under her breath.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • The tourists mutter in disbelief before the driver of the bus heads down the street to the next haunted stop.
    — Sonjirose Chin, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of mutter
Noun
  • As for his SpaceX funds, Meyer told investors in 2021 that a large purchase in SpaceX assets had closed even though the third-party fund that held the shares wouldn’t approve the transfer, the complaint states.
    — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
  • In a 2020 lawsuit, Dougan alleged he was retaliated against after an investigation was conducted into a complaint of gender discrimination that originated in the Fire Department’s Communications Center.
    — Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of complaint
Noun
  • But these aren’t the delicate whispers of citrus and florals that dominate summer.
    — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Dyson Air Purifier Early Prime Day Deal The Dyson Hushjet is a compact, small-form air purifier that's whisper-quiet but powerful.
    — Cierra Cowan, PC Magazine, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of whisper
Verb
  • This exchange turns into Luann fully spiraling out, screaming about Porsha being two hours late to anybody who would listen.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2026
  • In the locker room hallway, through the swinging doors behind The Swamp’s press room, voices screamed in.
    — Noah White, Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of scream
Verb
  • My brother looks at the floor, mumbles something, and then shuffles away from the table.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
  • After one take — which is usually not worth the celluloid it’s printed on, as the crew and the artists find their feet — Axl mumbled something about being freaked out and disappeared back into the depths of the building.
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of mumble

Browse Nearby Words

murky
murmur
murmured
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Cite this Entry

“Murmur.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/murmur. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on murmur

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about murmur

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