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Glite Dictionary
🤫 To speak quietly 🤫 A low sound
to mutter

to mutter

140 3.7
To speak quietly so others cannot hear, often to complain
  • verb
  • /ˈmʌtər/
translation icon : murmurar
  • As the teacher spoke, the student began to mutter about the homework assignment under his breath.
  • hear someone mutter
  • head down muttering
  • mutter words

He rambles, mutters, then hesitates when a deputy interrupts.

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Examples

  • So he muttered and stuttered and finally said, "I can't make a speech but I'll do a dance."

    The Gold Rush (1925)

  • After several attempts, the man in front muttered something, leaned back, and rammed the door shut.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Whenever he did, Powell would mutter, "Here come the little green men."

    Academic text (2010)

  • I suppose if they had been," he muttered, "our job would be a little easier."

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Someone in the back of the room muttered, "I still hate science."

    Academic text (1993)

  • All chatter stopped for a long moment until somebody finally muttered, "Air Force One."

    Academic text (2012)

  • "We don't have time for this," she muttered into his shirt, although she did not pull away.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • "Give me a break," she muttered, shaking the icy pelt from her eyes.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • The door closed behind him amid muttered curses, and Frisch found himself back out in the rain.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • "Morally unfit," this fat ass with tinted glasses muttered and wrote on my form.

    Fiction book (1990)

Synonyms

to mumble
vsto mutter
103 4.9

To speak in a low, unclear voice that is hard to understand

is aimed at low, secret speech to avoid being clearly heard
to grumble
vsto mutter
41 3.7

To complain quietly in a low voice

is more about low indistinct speech than repeated dissatisfaction
to murmur
vsto mutter
11 4.2

To speak in a low, quiet voice, often to complain or say something softly

leans more toward low indistinct voice used to avoid being heard
to grumble about
vsto mutter
6 4.1

To complain quietly about something you do not like

focuses more on low indistinct speech rather than explicit complaints
to croak
vsto mutter
  • Informal
4 6.3

To make quiet complaining sounds under your breath

focuses more on low indistinct speech with words rather than rough throat noises
to bleat
vsto mutter
3 7.7

To complain in a weak, whining voice

is more about low unclear voice rather than a thin whining tone
to mussitate
vsto mutter
  • Archaic
9.9

To speak quietly and unclearly so others cannot understand

focuses more on secret, low speech than only unclear articulation
to mump
vsto mutter
  • Archaic
9.9

To mutter complaints quietly so others cannot hear

tends to be lower and more about avoiding clear hearing than open complaint

Antonyms

to shout
644 1.0

To speak very loudly to get attention or show strong feeling

to articulate
85 4.4

To say or write your ideas clearly so others understand

How Clear

to shout
644 1.0
to speak
∞ 1.0
to mutter
140 3.7
to mumble
103 4.9
murmur
36 4.1

Surface Forms

mutter infinitive
muttered past
muttered past participle
muttering present participle
mutters third person singular

Etymology

Mutter is a sound word that copies the soft, unclear noise people make when they speak quietly, and it is like the word murmur. So to mutter is to speak in a 'low', often complaining voice so others cannot hear clearly.