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
Melissa Willets, Parents, 15 Sep. 2025
He was also heard muttering expletives down the stretch, visibly battling the heat and pressure.
—Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Aug. 2025
That Longhorns fan muttering about Nietzsche was right after all.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
Verb
My husband has been muttering in a loop about tuition, books, food, and transportation to and from home to campus.
—Melissa Willets, Parents, 15 Sep. 2025
He was also heard muttering expletives down the stretch, visibly battling the heat and pressure.
—Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Aug. 2025
That Longhorns fan muttering about Nietzsche was right after all.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for muttering
Noun
-
To this day, the cooing and mutter of pigeons can lull me into a space of deep enjoyment.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Oct. 2025
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
-
But Frederica Wilson, a Democratic congresswoman from South Florida, vividly remembers her constituents complaining about one Facebook ad in particular.—
David Smiley,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
-
About 20% of fire department employees responded to the survey, with large majorities of those respondents complaining about discrimination, diversity and inclusion programs and a wide range of organizational issues.—
Aaron Valdez,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Two students have unrolled what looks like an incomplete treasure map, and lean over it with magnifying glasses, murmuring to one another.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Oct. 2025
-
The music cuts off, and, gradually, everyone leaves, murmuring about a rave happening not too far away.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Agents appear to fight off a screaming crowd trying to help the man by pushing them away and threatening them with pepper spray.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
-
There’s nothing like stepping onto the ice with thousands of screaming school children on top of you after an early-morning bus ride to play in an early-morning game to remind you’re in the AHL rather than the NHL.—
Scott Powers,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Every offseason, the whispers of PGA Tour stars defecting to LIV Golf swirl like clockwork.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
-
This could trigger everything from whispers and misunderstandings to grudges that resurface in the group chat.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
On the Dodgers’ side of things, Roberts has already made some tweaks to his sputtering lineup.—
Joe Kozlowski,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Out of the ashes of a sputtering career as a music journalist came this new path as a screenwriter.—
Cameron Crowe,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Chip heeled tight to my left, his ears laid back, whining softly.—
Joel M. Vance,
Outdoor Life,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Marcus poked out his bottom lip, but no whining this time.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Muttering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muttering. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
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