as in mutter
speech that is not clear enough to be understood
barely heard mutterings of discontent
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
as in mumbling
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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
Adjective
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
Verb
-
Dani has fallen asleep, though only after complaining vociferously about the light.—
David Wingrave,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Lyons said store owners had been complaining about the retail for some time.—
Luke Barr,
ABC News,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Of all the sins that might damn your soul for eternity, mumbling is probably pretty far down the list.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The character in question, Charlie Saxton's Damon Drecker, had a remarkably similar haircut to Samberg's mumbling rapper.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
There’s screaming, crying and even a little slapping.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
-
While in the costume, the former Disney star also replicated the photo that started it all and filmed a hilarious video pretending to be Poot screaming and fighting for freedom in a garage.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
30 Oct. 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
Adjective
-
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
-
Ingberg, 23, drove the sputtering car to Akeley, dropped it off at a mechanic and hopped in Hansen’s squad car for a ride back to his home in Wadena.—
Alex Haddon,
Twin Cities,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Yet the chairman Ron Noades and Coppell heard whispers of transfer interest.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
For nearly a century, filmmakers have known that jewels speak a visual language of their own—each sparkle a whisper of glamour, danger, or desire—while the jeweler becomes co-director and the gem a co-star.—
Lilah Ramzi,
Vogue,
25 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 2 Nov. 2025.
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