MURMURS Synonyms: 117 Similar and Opposite Words

murmurs 1 of 2

noun

plural of murmur

as in whines

an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment finished the tedious job without a murmur

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as in whispers

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

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murmurs

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of murmur

as in complains

to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely no prisoner dared murmur out loud

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as in mutters

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 murmurs

Noun

In these murmurs, Ullom wonders how much modern technology has led us astray. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026 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 Despite murmurs of sessions for a new album, which began circulating in 2022, there’s no official news as of yet about a seventh Sade album. — Al Shipley, SPIN, 30 June 2026 The stadium, packed to the brim with more than 82,000 fans, reverberated with stunned murmurs as Morocco’s Ismael Saibari snuck behind a distracted Brazil defense and chipped home a beautiful goal over goalkeeper Alisson Becker’s head to open the scoring in the 22nd minute. — Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 14 June 2026 That absence has allowed for murmurs of doubt to seep in and create a space for a new enclave of rap fans to dismiss his music as generationally specific despite his very real track record and influence over pop culture. — Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 31 May 2026 Minnesota has been heavily linked to the Greek forward dating back to the trade deadline, and those murmurs don’t figure to subside in the next month-plus. — Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 26 May 2026 The room filled with soft murmurs. — Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 30 Apr. 2026

Verb

That pertness should be unbearable, but the scene is written in a minor key and performed by both actors to match, favouring eye contact and murmurs; the sheer brevity prevents it from becoming gloopy or crass. — Caspar Salmon, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026 Yoon murmurs something into her ear. — Literary Hub, 11 June 2026 There are also murmurs about the US government wanting a stake in the company. — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 11 June 2026 The remark drew a mix of gasps, murmurs and laughs from others in the room. — Emily Chang, ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026 Located at the foot of Petit Piton, guests are transported to a slice of tranquility, where the sound of a running stream murmurs in the background. — Nneka M. Okona, Travel + Leisure, 15 Feb. 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 In between each narrative episode, like an intertitle in a silent film, Guanyin, the goddess of Mercy (the exquisite soprano Mei Gui Zhang), murmurs Buddhist verses from her floating lotus. — Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 Nov. 2025 An aide for former first daughter Chelsea Clinton shut down murmurs about her entering the race. — Kyler Alvord, PEOPLE, 12 Nov. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for murmurs

Noun

Wails and moans of grief interspersed the chanting, until the small coffin was lowered into the grave.

— Victoria Davies, Rolling Stone, 31 Aug. 2026
On the second call, the medical alert company employee connected a local 911 call-taker to audio from the home, where the woman's moans of pain and threats by a man could be heard.

— David Clarey, jsonline.com, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of moans

Noun

At a time when so much contemporary art jockeys to be spectacular, Op de Beeck’s whispers, both commanding and requiring your attention.

— Miles Socha, Footwear News, 11 Sep. 2026
The work on my set is like open-heart surgery, only in whispers, going straight for the essential and nothing else.

— Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of whispers

Verb

That’s when Way mutters the p-word — under his breath for plausible deniability, but certainly still with the intention of being heard, smirking at the sound of my laughter.

— Selome Hailu, Variety, 18 Aug. 2026
Wilde read on social media that the tune actually inspired a movie theater meet-cute, as Nash mutters profanity mid-song.

— Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 11 July 2026

Definition of mutters

Noun

Sturridge’s speech was one thing, but there will be more serious complaints from Brazil if people feel their great hope is being overlooked.

— Jack Lang, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
The Wisconsin Elections Commission referred two complaints to the Brown County district attorney's office, paving the way for prosecutors to decide if Musk should be charged.

— Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of complaints

Noun

Ranging from the sound of emergency sirens and birds screeching to low grunts and guttural hoots, their vocalizations reverberate from a sanctuary in the hot, dry hills of the Santa Clarita Valley, north of Los Angeles.

— Jaimie Ding, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2026
As Yerman called for help from the grunts and worked on getting medical evacuation helicopters inbound, Capers ordered Crepeau to call in mortars dangerously close to the Marines’ position—a risky gamble that silenced the enemy guns.

— Ethan Rocke, Charlotte Observer, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of grunts

Verb

Standing in the backyard of a house situated near a neighboring golf course, rider screams are certainly audible, and residents said the consistency of them is destroying their quality of life.

— Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
There were hugs and high fives, and jubilant screams from a winning locker room could be heard clearly in the adjacent news conference room and by anyone walking through the hallway.

— Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of screams

Verb

Both look over at me and then Lumet mumbles something and the conversation abruptly ends.

— Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2026
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

Definition of mumbles

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murmurous

murmurs

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“Murmurs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/murmurs. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of murmurs

noun

verb

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