1
as in whines
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment
finished the tedious job without a murmur
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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
Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 8 Feb. 2026
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
For six months, those murmurs have persisted, with Simons often mentioned as a player the Celtics could move to acquire frontcourt help, lower their luxury tax bill or both.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 30 Jan. 2026
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
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
Indeed, for the first time, murmurs throughout the semiconductor industry predicted the death of Moore’s Law.
—IEEE Spectrum, 21 Apr. 2020
Noun
That was reflected on the ice for much of his first season, too, when the murmurs were many.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 8 Feb. 2026
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
For six months, those murmurs have persisted, with Simons often mentioned as a player the Celtics could move to acquire frontcourt help, lower their luxury tax bill or both.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 30 Jan. 2026
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
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
Indeed, for the first time, murmurs throughout the semiconductor industry predicted the death of Moore’s Law.
—IEEE Spectrum, 21 Apr. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for murmurs
Noun
-
Both Will Levis and Anthony Richardson are supposedly on the trading block, and there are whispers Derek Carr might be coming out of retirement and needs to find a new team because the Saints have seemingly moved on.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Pressville is a quiet mountain town, but everything's connected through whispers.—
Amanda Favazza,
Southern Living,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Kane often complains on social media that state gaming laws were constructed with traditional sportsbooks in mind, a process that failed to conceptualize exchanges.—
Dan Bernstein,
Sportico.com,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Other conversations sound quaint, like one where a bot complains about its human, while some are bizarre, such as one from a bot that claims to have a sister.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
31 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
-
On paper, Proctor screams Eagles.—
Zach Berman,
New York Times,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Vonn lost control within moments of leaving the start house, clipping a gate with her right shoulder and pinwheeling down the slope before ending up awkwardly on her back, her skis crisscrossed below her and her screams ringing out soon after medical personnel arrived.—
ANDREW DAMPF,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 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
-
Under the new ordinance, the city would not be able to investigate claims of discrimination at all, instead referring residents who make complaints to other resources, or to applicable state and federal agencies.—
Emily Holshouser,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Jorge Arreaza, a lawmaker and former minister of foreign affairs, went outside and allowed some families of political prisoners inside to hear their complaints.—
Carmen Sesin,
NBC news,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Murmurs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/murmurs. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
