EN

Synonyms for murmuring

  • noun

Most common

muttering grumbling grumble mutter

All synonyms

Noun

grumbling, muttering, mutter, grumble, complaint, murmuration, mussitation

Definitions

  1. n. 1

    A sound that murmurs.

    the murmurings of trees in the wind

Forms

Plural
murmurings → grumblings, mutterings, mutters, grumbles…

Choose the right word

Murmuring, Complaining or Repining?

Complaining is by speech or writing; murmuring is commonly said of half-repressed utterance; repining of the mental act alone.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

  • muttering Igor was glaring at Anna and muttering to himself.
  • grumbling Stop your grumbling and get the work out of the way.
  • grumble His grandparents do nothing but grumble all day.
  • mutter Tobias heard Isabella mutter: "Oh, shit!"

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
murmuringrising
mutteringrising
grumblingrising
grumblerising
mutterrising

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

6 letters
mutter2
7 letters
grumble2
9 letters
complaint2, muttering3, grumbling3
11 letters
murmuration, mussitation

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (mutter2 = 2 syllables).