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. MutterAnne-Sophie1963FGermanMUSIC: violinist Anne-Sophie. born 1963, German violinist

Derived Forms

• ˈmuttering, nounadjective
• ˈmutteringly, adverb
• ˈmutterer, noun

Other Words From

• mutter·er noun
• mutter·ing·ly adverb
• un·muttered adjective
• un·mutter·ing adjective
• un·mutter·ing·ly 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

Removing his microphone, he muttered "I'm sorry, I'm fed up of this interview. It's ridiculous" and left the studio.

From BBC

Nor does he bounce down like Guardiola, who tends to mutter a sentence or two to his coaching staff before bouncing back up to resume giving orders.

From BBC

As I try to decipher what these polls mean, I often find myself muttering, “Will someone please save me from this troublesome priest?”

From Salon

After that is a very difficult trip to Aston Villa when United must look to avoid entering a second international break in a row with mutterings around Ten Hag and his management.

From BBC

“A glide bomb,” one of the soldiers mutters.

From BBC

Related Words

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