mutter

[ muht-er ]

/ ˈmʌt ər /

SEE 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.

Words nearby mutter

mutism, muton, mutsuhito, mutt, mutt and jeff, mutter, mutton, mutton bird, mutton chop, mutton corn, mutton snapper

Origin of mutter

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

SYNONYMS FOR mutter

1 See murmur.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR mutter ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM mutter

mut·ter·er, nounmut·ter·ing·ly, adverbun·mut·tered, adjectiveun·mut·ter·ing, adjective

un·mut·ter·ing·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for mutter

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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
Melancholics mutter to themselves, look on the ground, and avoid society, all of which were considered signs of witchcraft.
Studies in the History and Method of Science|Various
The unfortunate young gentleman had only strength to turn himself on the ground and mutter forth, "My poor mother!"
Old Mortality, Complete, Illustrated|Sir Walter Scott

It was not long before Macdonald began to toss and mutter in his sleep, breaking forth now and then into wild cries and curses.
The Man From Glengarry|Ralph Connor
Josie heard him mutter, and then he opened the closet door and looked in.
Mary Louise and the Liberty Girls|Edith Van Dyne (AKA L. Frank Baum)
He did puff out his cheeks defiantly, to be sure, and mutter incoherently, but that lasted for only a few seconds.
In And Out|Edgar Franklin

British Dictionary definitions for mutter (1 of 2)

mutter

/ (ˈmʌtə) /

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 forms of mutter

mutterer, nounmuttering, noun, adjectivemutteringly, adverb

Word Origin for mutter

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

British Dictionary definitions for mutter (2 of 2)

Mutter

/ (ˈmʊtə) /

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

mutter

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

Words related to mutter

Words nearby mutter

Origin of mutter

SYNONYMS FOR mutter

OTHER WORDS FROM mutter

Examples from the Web for mutter

British Dictionary definitions for mutter (1 of 2)

verb

noun

Derived forms of mutter

Word Origin for mutter

British Dictionary definitions for mutter (2 of 2)

noun