mutter

mutter — verb

1. to say words in a low, unclear voice that is hard for other people to hear clear

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB2
Definition

to say words in a low, unclear voice that is hard for other people to hear clearly — often done when you feel worried, annoyed, or do not want others to understand what you are saying.

Example

Tendai muttered an apology to the librarian before hurrying out of the reading room.

transitive: mutter + noun phrase (apology)

The old man sat by the window, muttering to himself about the cold weather.

intransitive: mutter + to + oneself + about

Common collocations
  • mutter an apology
  • mutter to oneself
  • mutter under one's breath
  • mutter something
Synonyms
  • murmur

    softer and more continuous; can be pleasant or contented, not necessarily annoyed

  • mumble

    speaks with the mouth partly closed, making words even less distinct; less emotional than mutter

  • whisper

    uses breath without vocal cord vibration; can be clearer and intentional; no implication of annoyance

Antonyms
  • shout

    speak very loudly, the opposite of muttering

  • declare

    state clearly and publicly, not quietly

Grammar Patterns

mutter + to + person/oneself

mutter + noun phrase

mutter + about + noun

mutter + adverb (angrily/softly)

Usage Note

Frequently appears in continuous form (was/were muttering) to describe ongoing quiet speech. The intransitive pattern ('mutter to oneself') is more common than the transitive pattern. Unlike 'whisper,' muttering involves vocal cord vibration and produces unclear, mumbled sounds rather than breathy speech.

Common Mistakes

He muttered loudly across the room so everyone could hear.
He muttered quietly to himself in the corner.
'mutter' always suggests a low, unclear voice, so 'loudly' contradicts the meaning.

2. to express unhappiness or disagreement about something in a quiet voice, so that

2.verbtransitive / intransitiveB2
Definition

to express unhappiness or disagreement about something in a quiet voice, so that the person you are criticising does not hear you directly.

Example

The workers muttered about the new policy but no one spoke up at the meeting.

collocation: mutter + about + noun (policy)

Alessia muttered a complaint when her brother took the last piece of cake.

transitive: mutter + noun phrase (complaint)

Common collocations
  • mutter about the rules
  • mutter a complaint
  • mutter that-clause
  • mutter angrily
Synonyms
  • grumble

    more persistent and audible; often done habitually or openly

  • complain

    more direct and can be public; a neutral term without the secrecy of mutter

  • grouse

    informal British term for complaining about small annoyances; less common in US English

Antonyms
  • praise

    express approval, the opposite of complaining

  • applaud

    show public support, opposite of privately complaining

Grammar Patterns

mutter + about + noun

mutter + that-clause

mutter + noun phrase

Usage Note

Subject is typically a person or group who feels wronged but does not want direct confrontation. Distinguish from verb/s1 (SPEAK QUIETLY): in this sense the speaker is always expressing dissatisfaction or disagreement, whereas verb/s1 describes the manner of quiet speech regardless of emotional content.

Common Mistakes

She muttered her disagreement to the boss directly during the presentation.
She muttered her disagreement under her breath after the meeting.
'mutter' when complaining implies avoiding direct confrontation, not speaking openly.

mutter — noun

Word family

  • muttering
    nounB2
  • muttered
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words describe quiet or unclear speech, but they differ in physical mechanism and emotional tone. 'Mutter' suggests low, grumbling speech often directed at oneself, with overtones of annoyance or worry — someone mutters about a bad decision under their breath. 'Murmur' is softer and more continuous, often gentle or contented — people murmur sweetly, not angrily. 'Mumble' means speaking with the mouth partly closed, making words hard to distinguish, regardless of emotional state. 'Whisper' uses breath without vocal cord vibration, and can be either secretive or respectful. For example, a person mutters complaints to themselves, murmurs a lullaby, mumbles through an unprepared speech, and whispers a secret to a friend.

murmur ↗mumble ↗whisper ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • under one's breath
  • to oneself

Prepositions

Etymology

Proto-GermanicMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'mutter' comes from Middle English 'mutteren', which probably developed from an older Germanic root *mut- used to imitate the sound of muffled or indistinct speech. Similar words appear in other Germanic languages, such as Middle Dutch 'muteren' and Old High German 'mutilon'. Like many sound-imitating words in English ('buzz', 'hiss', 'murmur'), 'mutter' is likely onomatopoeic — the sound of the word itself echoes the quiet, grumbling noise it describes.