1
as in whines
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment
finished the tedious job without a murmur
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in complains
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
no prisoner dared murmur out loud
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mutters
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 murmurs
Zach Harper, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
After deciding to run it back in the offseason, there are murmurs that one of the team’s top players might be on the block sooner rather than later.
—Tyler Erzberger, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
For years, his controversies were tolerated—first as discreet murmurs behind gloved hands, then as uneasy conversations in corridors, and eventually as an inescapable topic of diplomatic small talk.
—Rob Shuter, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025
As Jarcovjáková travels from the former Czechoslovakia to Japan and West Berlin, navigating rejection and the lives of various lovers, the murmurs of voices, quiet footsteps and hums of crowded rooms accompany her striking black-and-white photography.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 5 Nov. 2025
Disappointed murmurs followed the mention of Valadao’s name.
—Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Moving forward, there are murmurs of those being stripped of titles and losing certain privileges.
—Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
The bad news is that there are already murmurs in Brussels about piecemeal, incremental measures – harmonizing certain national laws, creating yet another framework for EU member states to fuss over and interpret.
—Jan Hammer, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025
Along with these two normal sounds, doctors also listen for unusual noises – such as murmurs, extra beats or clicks – that can point to problems with how blood is flowing or whether the heart valves are working properly.
—Joshua Hutcheson, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2025
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2025
An aide for former first daughter Chelsea Clinton shut down murmurs about her entering the race.
—Kyler Alvord, PEOPLE, 12 Nov. 2025
But even amid the general euphoria, there recently have been murmurs about whether AI mania will prove to be an echo of the late 1990s dot-com boom and meltdown that plunged Silicon Valley into a funk that lasted several years.
—Staff, Austin American Statesman, 28 Aug. 2025
The River Coln murmurs gently here—weaving through golden buttercups and forget-me-nots, while plump ducks paddle lazily beneath canopies of willow.
—Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
There have also been murmurs around Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins and Small Business Administration chief Kelly Loeffler — but nothing more.
—Al Weaver, The Hill, 1 June 2025
Noun
All of the murmurs point toward that.
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
After deciding to run it back in the offseason, there are murmurs that one of the team’s top players might be on the block sooner rather than later.
—Tyler Erzberger, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
For years, his controversies were tolerated—first as discreet murmurs behind gloved hands, then as uneasy conversations in corridors, and eventually as an inescapable topic of diplomatic small talk.
—Rob Shuter, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025
As Jarcovjáková travels from the former Czechoslovakia to Japan and West Berlin, navigating rejection and the lives of various lovers, the murmurs of voices, quiet footsteps and hums of crowded rooms accompany her striking black-and-white photography.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 5 Nov. 2025
Disappointed murmurs followed the mention of Valadao’s name.
—Sacbee.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Moving forward, there are murmurs of those being stripped of titles and losing certain privileges.
—Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2025
The bad news is that there are already murmurs in Brussels about piecemeal, incremental measures – harmonizing certain national laws, creating yet another framework for EU member states to fuss over and interpret.
—Jan Hammer, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025
Along with these two normal sounds, doctors also listen for unusual noises – such as murmurs, extra beats or clicks – that can point to problems with how blood is flowing or whether the heart valves are working properly.
—Joshua Hutcheson, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
Tess murmurs, having had no idea that Alex, who works in finance, has started moonlighting in standup.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2025
An aide for former first daughter Chelsea Clinton shut down murmurs about her entering the race.
—Kyler Alvord, PEOPLE, 12 Nov. 2025
But even amid the general euphoria, there recently have been murmurs about whether AI mania will prove to be an echo of the late 1990s dot-com boom and meltdown that plunged Silicon Valley into a funk that lasted several years.
—Staff, Austin American Statesman, 28 Aug. 2025
The River Coln murmurs gently here—weaving through golden buttercups and forget-me-nots, while plump ducks paddle lazily beneath canopies of willow.
—Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
There have also been murmurs around Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins and Small Business Administration chief Kelly Loeffler — but nothing more.
—Al Weaver, The Hill, 1 June 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for murmurs
Noun
-
There have been political whispers in South Windsor since the November election about whether the decision disqualifying Amadasun was part of a Republican ploy to keep Democrats from achieving a council supermajority.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
14 Jan. 2026
-
And then, there were whispers about health care staff who were a little too vocal, finding their tires slashed when their workday ended.—
Mary Buser,
New York Daily News,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
People tend to get involved once a problem becomes visible – when a price looks wrong, a transaction is flagged or a customer complains.—
Murugan Anandarajan,
The Conversation,
22 Jan. 2026
-
In any work setting, there’s a person who sits around the table and complains about what’s wrong with the company, and then, when the boss walks in, that same person is over there pouring coffee, quiet as a church mouse.—
Willie Colon,
New York Times,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Your dad mutters for head movement, for cage cutting, for not playing off the back and creating distance.—
Matthew Shen Goodman,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The song eventually escalates into a lecherous, breathless, glittering climax of incandescent synthesizers and melodic moans—an erotic asphyxiation depicted as utterly glorious.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Two microphones angle towards the duduk to capture resonant moans, creaks, squeaks and honks akin to the bridge’s.—
Ruby Rosenthal,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Two of the monkeys had applauded the event with hopping and grunts, but the other three had shot like arrows into the trees, chasing after the peculiar bird that had remained indifferent to their antics.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Wrestlers are rewarded for greater effort, more force and louder grunts.—
Dan Pompei,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Bill Belichick’s resume screams one-way ticket to Canton, Ohio, but when he wasn’t voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, many were left flabbergasted on Tuesday night.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The 360-degree design also allowed for the crowd’s screams to echo and fill the entirety of the Kia Forum.—
Kristine Kwak,
Rolling Stone,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
From the first moment, the vibe is off, as Brady looks earnestly at Rooney, the England legend mumbles and gives vague answers.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Cumming said the city's information technology department also abruptly cut off part of her office administrator's access, including the ability to see who else in city government may be looking at whistleblower complaints and documents related to ethics investigations.—
Mike Hellgren,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
For hours, in the suffocating heat, Dooley sifted through endless accounts of mundane colonial matters—church records, itemizations, legal disputes, petty complaints.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Murmurs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/murmurs. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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