mutter

[muht-er]

See more synonyms for mutter on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)

to utter words indistinctly or in a low tone, often as if talking to oneself; murmur.
to complain murmuringly; grumble.
to make a low, rumbling sound.

verb (used with object)

to utter indistinctly or in a low tone: to mutter complaints.

noun

the act or utterance of a person who mutters.

Origin of mutter

1325–75; Middle English moteren, perhaps frequentative of moot¹ (Old English mōtian to speak); see -er⁶

Related formsmut·ter·er, nounmut·ter·ing·ly, adverbun·mut·tered, adjectiveun·mut·ter·ing, adjectiveun·mut·ter·ing·ly, adverb

Synonyms

See more synonyms for mutter on Thesaurus.com

1. See murmur.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for mutter

Contemporary Examples

As Democrats mutter privately that their Senate majority is sinking beneath the waves, their leadership has sent out an SOS.
The Only Way for Democrats to Win
Jonathan Alter
October 24, 2014
But when you do so, make sure to mutter the appropriate things about poverty, “the empire,” and the scourge of “neoliberalism.”
The Stupidest Hugo Chávez Hagiographies From the Yanquis Who Loved Him
Michael Moynihan
March 7, 2013
The theory here seems to be that to mutter about the jews off the record would be perfectly fine.
Who's Afraid of 'the Israel Lobby'?
David Frum
February 2, 2013

Historical Examples

"No living aunt ever looked as you do now," Kitty will mutter, shaking her head.
The Bacillus of Beauty
Harriet Stark
I heard him mutter as he neared the boat-house where Fin and I were stowing cargo.
The Underdog
F. Hopkinson Smith
I was near enough to hear him mutter: "How the devil comes this here?"
The Prisoner of Zenda
Anthony Hope
A shadow flitted in front of it, and he stopped to chuckle evilly and mutter.
Louisiana Lou
William West Winter
Gervaise entered, greatly embarrassed, not even daring to mutter an excuse.
L'Assommoir
Emile Zola

British Dictionary definitions for mutter

mutter

verb

to utter (something) in a low and indistinct tone
(intr) to grumble or complain
(intr) to make a low continuous murmuring sound

noun

a muttered sound or complaint

Derived Formsmutterer, nounmuttering, noun, adjectivemutteringly, adverb

Word Origin

C14 moteren; related to Norwegian (dialect) mutra, Old High German mutilōn; compare Old English mōtian to speak

Mutter

noun

Anne-Sophie. born 1963, German violinist

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for mutter

v.

early 14c., moteren "to mumble," from a common PIE imitative *mut- "to grunt, mutter" (cf. Old Norse muðla "to murmur," Latin muttire "to mutter," Old High German mutilon "to murmur, mutter; to drizzle"), with frequentative suffix -er. Related: Muttered; muttering.

n.

1630s, from mutter (v.).

mutter

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}mutter

Synonyms

Examples from the Web for mutter

Contemporary Examples

As Democrats mutter privately that their Senate majority is sinking beneath the waves, their leadership has sent out an SOS.

But when you do so, make sure to mutter the appropriate things about poverty, “the empire,” and the scourge of “neoliberalism.”

The theory here seems to be that to mutter about the jews off the record would be perfectly fine.

Historical Examples

"No living aunt ever looked as you do now," Kitty will mutter, shaking her head.

I heard him mutter as he neared the boat-house where Fin and I were stowing cargo.

I was near enough to hear him mutter: "How the devil comes this here?"

A shadow flitted in front of it, and he stopped to chuckle evilly and mutter.

Gervaise entered, greatly embarrassed, not even daring to mutter an excuse.

mutter

Word Origin

Mutter

Word Origin and History for mutter

v.

n.

Origin of mutter