as in muttering
speech that is not clear enough to be understood
his surprising announcement brought murmurings from the crowd
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in humming
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in complaining
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
no prisoner dared murmur out loud
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mumbling
to speak softly and unclearly
a college professor who tends to murmur
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of murmuring
Greg Petro, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Colin Joyce, Pitchfork, 28 Jan. 2026
Two students have unrolled what looks like an incomplete treasure map, and lean over it with magnifying glasses, murmuring to one another.
—Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
Customers in the Dunkin’ have a similar response, murmuring and looking over their shoulders for the Accountant 2 actor.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
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
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
Two students have unrolled what looks like an incomplete treasure map, and lean over it with magnifying glasses, murmuring to one another.
—Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
Customers in the Dunkin’ have a similar response, murmuring and looking over their shoulders for the Accountant 2 actor.
—Sabrina Weiss, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for murmuring
Adjective
-
The Colts’ offense is absolutely humming.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The complaining witness in the case is Robert Held, a local attorney who has often protested at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing center in nearby Broadview.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Spousal involvement with an AI is a growing reason for divorce, with partners complaining about the amount of time and money their spouses were spending on their AI relationship.—
Lori Andrews,
Mercury News,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
The older lady who was muttering to herself in casting is there.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
To this day, the cooing and mutter of pigeons can lull me into a space of deep enjoyment.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Nguyen’s main renovations brought the bar from the back of the room to the front, an open window into the buzzing new restaurant.—
Miguel Otárola,
Denver Post,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Once a pivotal railway stop, later the site of world-stage events, like the 1996 Olympic Games, and most recently, a filming epicenter, Conyers has blossomed into a buzzing destination, drawing visitors from across the globe.—
Nicole Letts,
Southern Living,
3 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Under the watchful eye of sheriffs deputies who threatened to ticket anyone caught standing in the road, along with a small number of National Guard members, the protesters took turns screaming swears and warming up in nearby parked cars.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
28 Jan. 2026
-
An exodus of prosecutors who didn’t care for his staff screaming sessions and boorish press conferences.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
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
Adjective
-
Pawel had a deep, resonant voice that narrated the experience in a profound way.—
Sally Susman,
Time,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The film artfully blends wacky gags and references with resonant themes that affect our world, including discrimination and unconscious bias, satisfying viewers of all ages.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Murmuring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/murmuring. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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