1
as in complained
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
a muttering group of workers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in murmured
to speak softly and unclearly
muttering to himself under his breath
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in mumbled
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 muttered
Noah White, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
Although full disclosure, those two words were muttered in the press box Sunday after Nix had thrown two unsightly picks through the first three quarters of the Broncos’ win over Tennessee.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2025
There are few actors whose disembodied voices could carry long stretches of cinema, but Dafoe manages it, turning monologues about marionette mechanics or muttered complaints about hotel politics into something weirdly magnetic.
—Leila Latif, IndieWire, 31 Aug. 2025
Some faculty and staff reacted with horror, others voiced increasing fear about the ongoing assault on academic freedom, and some merely muttered in sad resignation to the new reality.
—Giuliana Perrone, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
But the other 3%, often muttered by students prospectively examining transfer applications, is distinct.
—Noah White, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025
Although full disclosure, those two words were muttered in the press box Sunday after Nix had thrown two unsightly picks through the first three quarters of the Broncos’ win over Tennessee.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2025
There are few actors whose disembodied voices could carry long stretches of cinema, but Dafoe manages it, turning monologues about marionette mechanics or muttered complaints about hotel politics into something weirdly magnetic.
—Leila Latif, IndieWire, 31 Aug. 2025
Some faculty and staff reacted with horror, others voiced increasing fear about the ongoing assault on academic freedom, and some merely muttered in sad resignation to the new reality.
—Giuliana Perrone, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muttered
Verb
-
Trump also complained about the way his hair looked on the cover of Time magazine.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
14 Oct. 2025
-
The one-star general was leading the White House Military Office when a handful of employees first complained about his leadership style in January 2020.—
Davis Winkie,
USA Today,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
So to this day, 'Borderline's' lyrics are mumbled on SNL.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Oct. 2025
-
At that point, the dad shook his head, mumbled something under his breath, tossed the melon back in the bin, and picked an alternative fruit.—
Catharine Kaufman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The professional chef, who had never smelled her own feet before, screamed as Barrymore picked up her foot and gave it a sniff.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Also at the game was Travis Kelce's fiancée, Taylor Swift, who rocked an outfit that screamed Chiefs pride.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Deep breathing could be heard; birds chirped loudly outside; spectators murmured on the periphery.—
Sarah Larson,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Marcela grunted into her glass.—
Zuzana Říhová,
Literary Hub,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Ohtani grunted his way through the trouble, emptying the tank to keep a zero on the board.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
From the other room, the victim moaned.—
Stephanie Kuzydym,
The Courier-Journal,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Yankees fans have moaned and groaned about Aaron Boone’s deployment of Williams in crucial situations this season, and it’s only exacerbated now that every game counts in the postseason race.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
9 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
In Black Phone 2, McGraw has been upgraded to the de facto lead actor, and Gwen’s foul-mouthed takedowns are even more vicious.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Oct. 2025
-
The shaky MacKenzie-Grant alliance will survive because Dougal will marry that boot-mouthed, hoity-toity Grant, Maura.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
There were whispered mentions of prison, alcoholism, domestic abuse.—
Rachel Linden,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Samira, a 19-year-old student from Kabul, was in a religious education class on Wednesday when a cleaner entered the room and whispered something to her teacher, who ran out, and then came back minutes later, beaming with her phone.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Muttered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muttered. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share