Meaning & use

mutter

verb·Everyday

To speak quietly and unclearly, often while complaining or expressing displeasure under one's breath.

See it in a sentence

He muttered something about the traffic as he walked in twenty minutes late.

She muttered to herself while searching for her missing keys.

A note on using this word

Mutter usually implies both low volume and a slightly negative or complaining tone, unlike mumble, which just means unclear speech without that emotional edge.

Words with a similar meaning

mumblegrumble

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

shoutdeclare

Make it your own

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