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mutter 1 of 2

noun

Definition of mutternext
as in muttering
speech that is not clear enough to be understood the distracting mutter of some member of the audience

Synonyms & Similar Words

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mutter

2 of 2

verb

ˈmə-tər How to pronounce mutter (audio)
1
as in to complain
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely a muttering group of workers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to mumble
to speak softly and unclearly muttering to himself under his breath

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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 mutter
Noun
Alice questions Mira while Frank mutters completely unhelpful asides from behind the glass partition. — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 28 July 2026 Six mutters and sighs and rolls his head as if profoundly exasperated. — Literary Hub, 21 May 2026
Verb
This was 1872, and the pious (and patronizing) commentators of the time muttered that Damien’s unvarnished personality was due to his simple farm upbringing in rural Belgium. — Literary Hub, 20 July 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 See All Example Sentences for mutter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mutter
  1. muttering
  2. complain
  3. mumble
  4. grunting
  5. scream
  6. murmur
  7. whisper
  8. whine
Noun
  • 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
  • Well of course weren’t going to complain about getting to see Reba!
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Karen Khachanov complained about it after Zverev beat him in the semifinals.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of complain
Verb
  • The convex-concave curves of the open and closed parentheses cup something said by the way, whisperings, secrets mouthed into the reader’s ear, mumbled under the author’s breath.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Later that day, Rowley was drenched in sweat, rocking back and forth and mumbling incoherently as the poison – later identified as Novichok, a Russian nerve agent – took hold of him, too.
    — Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
Definition of mumble
Noun
  • By pulling this string, the locals made an amplified grunting noise similar to that of a jaguar.
    — Delbert L. Chears, Outdoor Life, 5 Mar. 2026
Definition of grunting
Verb
  • 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
  • Kolb also pushed another protester who was screaming about getting wool off the runway, covering the protester’s mouth and pulling a banner out of his hands, until he was escorted out.
    — Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 13 Sep. 2026
Definition of scream
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
  • Some people experience a faster heart rate and, in severe cases, can develop a heart murmur.
    — Teresa Maalouf, Verywell Health, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of murmur
Noun
  • Moore begins with a whisper and builds to a roar as Mona improvises a manic rant that involves rats and the plague.
    — Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Engineered around Qualcomm’s flagship 12-core Snapdragon X Elite processor, this Surface laptop delivers exceptional processing speed with whisper-quiet thermal efficiency.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of whisper
Verb
  • Still, to Sandy, Joe’s whining is no reason to write him off altogether.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2026
  • And everyone stop whining to their mom about the other one – or in this case, a federal judge.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of whine

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Cite this Entry

“Mutter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mutter. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

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