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
Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
The volume has gone up again since Ruben Amorim’s recent departure, muttering darkly about Gary Neville’s outside influence in particular.
—Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2026
The older lady who was muttering to herself in casting is there.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Jan. 2026
The camera then turns to James Austin Johnson, who played the president, sleeping and muttering New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s name.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025
On the plane, Dick clutches the slingshot and begins sweating and muttering to himself before becoming unresponsive.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
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
Verb
But the bad news is that outside of a mutual prisoner exchange, both sides walked away muttering the same old positions.
—Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
The volume has gone up again since Ruben Amorim’s recent departure, muttering darkly about Gary Neville’s outside influence in particular.
—Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2026
The older lady who was muttering to herself in casting is there.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Jan. 2026
The camera then turns to James Austin Johnson, who played the president, sleeping and muttering New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s name.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025
On the plane, Dick clutches the slingshot and begins sweating and muttering to himself before becoming unresponsive.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2025
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
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
-
Your corrupt presidency of graft, vengeance and ceaseless vacillation between loudly complaining and loudly boasting has become like a jackhammer outside our collective window every day since your inauguration.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
21 Feb. 2026
-
But please don’t stop complaining about the numerous kids who abuse traffic laws while riding dangerously on e-bikes.—
Ticked Off,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
His father trailed him on the ice, murmuring.—
Sally Jenkins,
The Atlantic,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Rarely have Hunt’s compositions felt so jittery and full of life as the title track, which blooms from murmuring drones into shimmering bokehs of synth programming.—
Colin Joyce,
Pitchfork,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As the nation bonded as one over the past two weeks biting nails, screaming at wins, wincing at crashes and choking up at all the beautiful moments of Olympic competition, another group of athletes were – and still are – out honing their multi-level championship skills.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
-
People went ballistic—cursing, yelling, screaming, all kinds of threats.—
Andrew Norman Wilson,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The Carry-on Pro features a sleek, scratch-resistant polycarbonate shell, whisper-smooth 360-degree spinner wheels, and an ejectable front laptop sleeve that makes TSA checks far less chaotic.—
Kristy Alpert,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Feb. 2026
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One storyline that will be at the forefront of the upcoming season centers on Wednesday's Aunt Ophelia, who's been spoken about in hushed whispers throughout season 2.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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On a mission to turn around the governor’s sputtering presidential campaign, Uthmeier was asked about his boss’s performance in a Republican debate that had just ended.—
Dan Sullivan,
Miami Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Some signs that the carburetor is clogged on a snow blower are starting then dying a few seconds afterward, jerking, sputtering noises, and black smoke emitting from the exhaust.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Extra points are awarded here to families who avoid any whining about this.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
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Recognize signs of hypothermia The signs of hypothermia in pets are whining, shivering, anxiety, slowing down, or looking for a warm place to burrow.—
Alexa Herrera,
CBS News,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Muttering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/muttering. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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