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
Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 1 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
From a long-quiet wingman who dispensed with six years of muttering under his breath and spoke with a cold-blooded certainty that announced his arrival as a force to be reckoned with.
—Jon Krawczynski, New York Times, 1 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
-
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
-
There have been 72 police reports filed in the past three months alone, complaining that mailed checks have been stolen and washed by criminals who are cashing them for tens of thousands of dollars.—
J.D. Miles,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
-
While there are some athletes complaining about representing the United States on a global stage, the hockey players have embraced being proud of wearing the red, white and blue.—
Dan Zaksheske OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
7 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
-
On the night that everything changed, one of them would end the night screaming, and the other, in my opinion, didn't scream enough.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
11 May 2026
-
Dramatic doorbell camera video shows the moment the man ran out of her home, and Cooper can be heard screaming in the background.—
Tara Lynch,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
In a world where most conversations take the form of cautious whispers, information degrades quickly.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
13 May 2026
-
With a whisper of mineral notes, Ford’s was a bracingly hefty gin with impressive structure.—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
Only the sputtering right engine remained to provide sporadic thrust and to power some flight controls.—
James Glanz,
New York Times,
1 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 15 May. 2026.
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