mumble

[muhm-buhl]

verb (used without object)

mumbled, mumbling 

1. to speak in a low indistinct manner, almost to an unintelligible extent; mutter.

   Antonyms: articulate

2. to chew ineffectively, as from loss of teeth.

   to mumble on a crust.

verb (used with object)

mumbled, mumbling 

1. to say or utter indistinctly, as with partly closed lips.

   He mumbled something about expenses.

2. to chew, or try to eat, with difficulty, as from loss of teeth.

noun

1. a low, indistinct utterance or sound.

mumble

/ ˈmʌmbəl /

verb

1. to utter indistinctly, as with the mouth partly closed; mutter

2. rare,  to chew (food) ineffectually or with difficulty

noun

1. an indistinct or low utterance or sound

Other Word Forms

• mumbler noun
• mumblingly adverb
• half-mumbled adjective
• unmumbled adjective
• unmumbling adjective
• mumbling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mumble¹

1275–1325; Middle English momelen, equivalent to mom ( me ) mum ¹ + -elen -le; compare Dutch mommelen, German mummeln

Word History and Origins

Origin of mumble¹

C14 momelen, from _mum ²

Synonym Study

See murmur.

Example Sentences

But to bemoan the barely audible banality of it all – the dull motives, the mumbled attempts to shift blame, the sullen complaints about prison life and unsatisfactory psychiatric evaluations - is to miss the truth.

Read more on BBC

“Wishin’ that they could be us so all they do is hate,” he mumbled under his breath.

Read more on Salon

Kawhi Leonard mumbled his way through a few answers to questions Monday about his endorsement deal with Aspiration Partners that has triggered an NBA investigation into whether the Clippers circumvented the league salary cap.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“I got what I wanted,” the singer mumbled, by his brother’s account.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The people in shot mumbled and were drowned out by a blaring TV.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• grumble 
• murmur 
• mutter 
• ramble 
• rumble 
• stammer 
• stutter 
• utter 
• whisper