mutter

[muht-er]

verb (used without object)

1. to utter words indistinctly or in a low tone, often as if talking to oneself; murmur.

2. to complain murmuringly; grumble.

3. to make a low, rumbling sound.

verb (used with object)

1. to utter indistinctly or in a low tone.

   to mutter complaints.

noun

1. the act or utterance of a person who mutters.

mutter

¹

/ ˈmʌtə /

verb

1. to utter (something) in a low and indistinct tone

2. (intr) to grumble or complain

3. (intr) to make a low continuous murmuring sound

noun

1. a muttered sound or complaint

Mutter

²

/ ˈmʊtə /

noun

1. Anne-Sophie. born 1963, German violinist

Other Word Forms

• muttering noun
• mutteringly adverb
• mutterer noun
• unmuttered adjective
• unmuttering adjective
• unmutteringly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of mutter¹

1325–75; Middle English moteren, perhaps frequentative of moot ( Old English mōtian to speak); -er ⁶

Word History and Origins

Origin of mutter¹

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

Synonym Study

See murmur.

Example Sentences

Some faculty and staff reacted with horror, others voiced increasing fear about the ongoing assault on academic freedom, and some merely muttered in sad resignation to the new reality.

From Los Angeles Times

“Why are you here?” a Ukrainian soldier barks at a captured Russian, who mutters back, “I don’t know why we’re here.”

From Los Angeles Times

At one point, Yoshii mutters, “So this is how you get into hell.”

From Los Angeles Times

Tensions between Gurney and Price appeared to begin when the Northern Irishman appeared to mutter an expletive to himself as the two players prepared to walk off the stage for the second break.

From BBC

Though he’s given to explosive bursts of speech, as the character has developed, the humor he plays becomes more subtle and quiet, peppered with muttered comments and sotto voce asides he means to be heard.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• complain 
• groan 
• growl 
• moan 
• murmur 
• snarl 
• sputter 
• whisper