Synonyms of muttering

muttering 1 of 3

noun

as in mutter

speech that is not clear enough to be understood

barely heard mutterings of discontent

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mutter
• grunting
• murmuring
• whisper
• mumble
• grunt
• murmur
• chattering
• rumor
• chatter
• babbling
• jabbering
• gabbling
• babble
• prattle
• prattling
• gabble
• maundering
• rambling
• jabber
• undertone
• driveling
• blabbing
• blab
• drivel

muttering

2 of 3

adjective

as in mumbling

Related Words

• mumbling
• stumbling
• sputtering
• faltering
• hesitant
• stammering
• maundering
• stuttering
• halting
• inarticulate
• unvocal
• voiceless
• ineloquent
• mute
• tongueless
• speechless
• tongue-tied

Dissimilar Words

• articulate
• eloquent
• fluent
• voluble
• glib
• vocal
• verbal
• well-spoken
• facile
• silver-tongued
• expressive
• outspoken
• smooth-tongued

muttering

3 of 3

verb

present participle of mutter

1

as in complaining

to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely

a muttering group of workers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• complaining
• screaming
• whining
• moaning
• murmuring
• grumbling
• whimpering
• growling
• hollering
• worrying
• kicking
• yammering
• crying
• squawking
• squealing
• bitching
• wailing
• grousing
• griping
• inveighing
• bleating
• nagging
• carping
• yowling
• keening
• repining
• beefing
• whinging
• grouching
• yawping
• croaking
• bellyaching
• kvetching
• grumping
• grizzling
• caterwauling
• protesting
• fussing
• crabbing
• maundering
• sobbing
• kicking up a fuss
• quarreling (with)
• quibbling
• objecting (to)
• stewing
• blubbering
• fretting
• lamenting
• bewailing
• caviling
• deploring
• bemoaning

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rejoicing
• delighting
• taking
• accepting
• bearing
• tolerating
• enduring
• crowing
• cheering
• applauding
• commending
• countenancing

2

as in murmuring

to speak softly and unclearly

muttering to himself under his breath

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mumbling
• murmuring
• mouthing
• grunting
• whispering
• chuntering
• gasping
• panting
• gibbering
• chattering
• breathing
• jabbering
• babbling
• prattling
• blabbing
• rambling
• gabbling
• buzzing
• driveling
• maundering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• speaking out
• articulating
• speaking up
• enunciating

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of muttering

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

Verb

The only thing left in the field was a distraught college kid, pacing back and forth, muttering to himself, and suffering over what might have been. — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 28 Oct. 2026

Max Muncy, whose home run expanded the Dodgers’ lead, was still muttering about the heat nearly 15 minutes after escaping into air conditioning. — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 4 Oct. 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

Now, for the second straight summer, 49ers training camp goes on without him on the sideline — strolling, watching, eavesdropping, muttering. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2026

On Tuesday, cameras caught Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing muttering something after looking back at the Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee, who was in discomfort after an awkward slide at home plate. — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026

Then, there’s a dramatic landscape by Jacob van Ruisdael, with gray clouds muttering on high and brighter blues impending in the sky below. — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026

Past albums like Lyfë and 2093 were best experienced as hourslong excursions into illegible rage-rap experiences that washed over the listener, with Yeat’s voice muttering his harmonies amid glitchy laptop bangers. — Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 31 Mar. 2026

In fact, the director was egging me on, encouraging me to go further with the hunching and muttering. — Andrew Martin, Vogue, 9 Mar. 2026