as in mutter
speech that is not clear enough to be understood
barely heard mutterings of discontent
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in mumbling
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in complaining
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
a muttering group of workers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in murmuring
to speak softly and unclearly
muttering to himself under his breath
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of muttering
Eduardo A. Encina, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026
Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 21 May 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
The scent of vinegar fills the set, and a crew member wanders by muttering about dyeing Easter eggs.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 17 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
Old friend Daniel Vladar was spectacular in making 26 saves, several of which had Morgan Geekie (nine total shots, five on net, two blocked, two misses) muttering to himself.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 28 Feb. 2026
Then, while there was still enough light to see them plainly, the two came stalking out of the brush, growling and muttering.
—Doris Decleene, Outdoor Life, 25 Feb. 2026
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
Verb
An edgy confrontation The Rangers were still seething as Keenan attempted to address the team following a demoralizing 3-1 loss, with a few snapping back or muttering under their breath.
—Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 21 May 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
The scent of vinegar fills the set, and a crew member wanders by muttering about dyeing Easter eggs.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 17 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
Old friend Daniel Vladar was spectacular in making 26 saves, several of which had Morgan Geekie (nine total shots, five on net, two blocked, two misses) muttering to himself.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 28 Feb. 2026
Then, while there was still enough light to see them plainly, the two came stalking out of the brush, growling and muttering.
—Doris Decleene, Outdoor Life, 25 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muttering
Noun
-
Six mutters and sighs and rolls his head as if profoundly exasperated.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 May 2026
Adjective
-
The stop-motion digital series about a jolly, mumbling, pint-size cook serves up a big slice of serotonin.—
Sonal Dutt,
PEOPLE,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Hegseth had some choice words for Europe, complaining that allies in the region hadn’t pulled their weight.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
30 May 2026
-
Now in the possession of Kelly Kilpatrick (Cherry Jones), Deborah, dragging a complaining Ava with her as a kind of opposite beard, decides to con Kilpatrick and her wife Monica (Leslie Bibb).—
Rachel Elspeth Gross,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
But many questions went unanswered, frustrating many murmuring and grumbling attendees.—
Ryan Gillespie,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
-
His father trailed him on the ice, murmuring.—
Sally Jenkins,
The Atlantic,
1 Feb. 2026
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
Verb
-
And watching the videos of the people jumping out of their chairs, screaming, cheering was so cool.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
2 June 2026
-
An exasperated Tomás enters the thicket himself to retrieve, among other items, Liam’s boot, and doesn’t emerge until the next day—not screaming, but fundamentally changed.—
Nora Biette-Timmons,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
There had been political whispers in South Windsor since the November election about whether the decision disqualifying Amadasun was part of a Republican ploy to keep Democrats from achieving a council supermajority.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
1 June 2026
-
This might be as simple as a public argument – hissing whispers in an elevator.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
Their biggest bats were sputtering, too.—
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
24 May 2026
-
This one required extra innings and undid a late surge by their sputtering offense.—
Matt Kawahara,
Houston Chronicle,
19 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Muttering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muttering. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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