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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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
  • Shannon basically complains so much that Jenn, a sweet baby angel straight from a Hallmark Christmas movie, offers to change rooms with her.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The private sector complains that there are jobs but that Indians aren’t skilled enough to be hired.
    — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of complains
Verb
  • Both look over at me and then Lumet mumbles something and the conversation abruptly ends.
    — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2026
  • Meanwhile, everyone is still running around like the Keystone Kops chasing Billie, passing an old lady in a bed eating Jell-O who mumbles something in Diné.
    — Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Feb. 2026
Definition of mumbles
Noun
  • Last year, footage of a skeleton prop at a winter Zac Brown Band concert drew whispers of devil worship.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026
  • But his contract runs out in March, and for nearly a year there have been whispers that his extension is coming soon.
    — Jonathan Jones, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of whispers
Verb
  • Otherwise, there’s definitely a family-friendly element to the hotel (the whole storybook feel screams childhood), though the food options may be a little bit advanced for a kids’ palate.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Aug. 2026
  • When Cantu reaches towards Lopez and screams his wife’s name, a shot rings out and Lopez falls slightly off camera.
    — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of screams
Verb
  • 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
  • Yoon murmurs something into her ear.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 June 2026
Definition of murmurs
Verb
  • At one point, when Reagan suggests sharing missile-defense technology, Gorbachev stands up and whines about how America will not even share dairy technology so that the Soviets can provide milk to their children.
    — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The snippet ends just as the cat whines and tucks its head beneath the barrier, not far from the officer filming the scene.
    — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026
Definition of whines
Verb
  • 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
  • Musselwhite punctuated the music with his harmonica trills and moans while his right knee bounced in time with the rhythms.
    — Kevin McKeough, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 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 2 Sep. 2026.

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