mutters 1 of 2

noun

plural of mutter
as in grunts
speech that is not clear enough to be understood the distracting mutter of some member of the audience

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mutters

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of mutter
1
as in complains
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely a muttering group of workers

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mumbles
to speak softly and unclearly muttering to himself under his breath

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mutters
Noun
Alice questions Mira while Frank mutters completely unhelpful asides from behind the glass partition. — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 28 July 2026 Six mutters and sighs and rolls his head as if profoundly exasperated. — Literary Hub, 21 May 2026
Verb
That’s when Way mutters the p-word — under his breath for plausible deniability, but certainly still with the intention of being heard, smirking at the sound of my laughter. — Selome Hailu, Variety, 18 Aug. 2026 Wilde read on social media that the tune actually inspired a movie theater meet-cute, as Nash mutters profanity mid-song. — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 11 July 2026 Your dad mutters for head movement, for cage cutting, for not playing off the back and creating distance. — Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mutters
  1. grunts
  2. complains
  3. mumbles
  4. whispers
  5. screams
  6. murmurs
  7. whines
  8. moans
Noun
  • Ranging from the sound of emergency sirens and birds screeching to low grunts and guttural hoots, their vocalizations reverberate from a sanctuary in the hot, dry hills of the Santa Clarita Valley, north of Los Angeles.
    — Jaimie Ding, Fortune, 23 Aug. 2026
  • As Yerman called for help from the grunts and worked on getting medical evacuation helicopters inbound, Capers ordered Crepeau to call in mortars dangerously close to the Marines’ position—a risky gamble that silenced the enemy guns.
    — Ethan Rocke, Charlotte Observer, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of grunts
Verb
  • China is demanding the US ease export bans on high-tech goods, like chipmaking gear; the US bitterly complains about Chinese overproduction and transhipment.
    — Andy Browne, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026
  • There’ll always be someone who doesn’t like it, who complains about it.
    — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of complains
Verb
  • My brother looks at the floor, mumbles something, and then shuffles away from the table.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Both look over at me and then Lumet mumbles something and the conversation abruptly ends.
    — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2026
Definition of mumbles
Noun
  • But these aren’t the delicate whispers of citrus and florals that dominate summer.
    — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 28 Sep. 2026
  • At a time when so much contemporary art jockeys to be spectacular, Op de Beeck’s whispers, both commanding and requiring your attention.
    — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of whispers
Verb
  • The residents also projected a slick video (narrated by a British actor and viewed by Deadline) that talked about how the residents hear screams every 20 to 40 seconds, which averages out to 1,000 screams a day, 365,000 a year.
    — Lynette Rice, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Between the rich burgundy hue, the delicate side splits on the crewneck sweater, the ribbed texture, and the wide-leg pant silhouette, this matching set screams rich-mom energy.
    — Alyssa Morin, InStyle, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of screams
Verb
  • Moments later, murmurs, then cheers, rippled out from where Pasitney, Gaudry, and Espersen stood.
    — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
  • That pertness should be unbearable, but the scene is written in a minor key and performed by both actors to match, favouring eye contact and murmurs; the sheer brevity prevents it from becoming gloopy or crass.
    — Caspar Salmon, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of murmurs
Verb
  • Andrew whines about the prattling women who’ve infiltrated his home, firmly establishing that all men are, in fact, terrible.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 18 Sep. 2026
  • On the dashboard, radar whines – tilting higher in pitch the faster cars go.
    — Sarah Matusek, Christian Science Monitor, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of whines
Verb
  • Sam makes a production out of teasing them, mock-reaching for various items on the set as the whole group moans and wails in distress.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Endo is the sixth choice midfielder and someone who never moans about his place in the pecking order.
    — James Pearce, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of moans

Browse Nearby Words

muttering
mutters
mutts
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Cite this Entry

“Mutters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mutters. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

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