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

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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

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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
The tourists mutter in disbelief before the driver of the bus heads down the street to the next haunted stop. — Sonjirose Chin, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2026 When John finally reunites with Hal (who charges the ring against the lantern while quickly muttering his oath), the frustrated protégé immediately confronts his teacher with all the suspicions he was meant to keep secret. — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 24 Aug. 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
  • From the first take to the last, the scene evolves quite dramatically, and the final take is the one that most closely resembles the scene in the finished episode (though, sadly, Ned’s introductory muttering seems to have been cut for time).
    — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Sep. 2026
  • 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
  • Someone else even complained about the self-clean feature ruining their appliance.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Nov. 2026
  • By July, morale among immigration officers had dipped below its nadir during the Biden Administration, with agents now complaining of being overextended, inundated with novice recruits, and undermined by inflammatory rhetoric from on high.
    — Francisco Cantú, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of complain
Verb
  • My brother looks at the floor, mumbles something, and then shuffles away from the table.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
  • After one take — which is usually not worth the celluloid it’s printed on, as the crew and the artists find their feet — Axl mumbled something about being freaked out and disappeared back into the depths of the building.
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 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
  • Upon arriving at Bottiglierivega's door, a police sergeant heard screaming and spotted blood nearby.
    — Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Officers arrived at the scene and found people screaming as a man was lying in the street, suffering from gunshot wounds.
    — Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of scream
Verb
  • Muñoz said he's had six surgeries and suffers from diabetes, a heart murmur, neuropathy and high blood pressure.
    — Luzdelia Caballero, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Though, it perhaps must be said that Johnson’s glazed-over, murmuring style of line delivery does grow grating.
    — Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of murmur
Noun
  • Chiefly, engineers will need to design lightweight compressors that can capture and pressurize the whisper-thin Martian air.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Wildwood is a dark tale, with whispers of a witch, set against the beautiful yet formidable backdrop of rural New England.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of whisper
Verb
  • Just thank God you were born female and stop whining over your bad choices.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Unlike last year when Texas coach Steve Sarkisian whined about his non-conference schedule, his main complaint this year will be his conference schedule.
    — Mac Engel October 25, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Oct. 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 4 Nov. 2026.

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