MURMUR Synonyms: 125 Similar and Opposite Words

murmur 1 of 2

noun

ˈmər-mər

Definition of murmur

as in whine

an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment finished the tedious job without a murmur

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in muttering

speech that is not clear enough to be understood could just barely hear the murmurs of the audience

Synonyms & Similar Words

murmur

2 of 2

verb

as in to complain

to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely no prisoner dared murmur out loud

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to mutter

to speak softly and unclearly a college professor who tends to murmur

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of murmur

Noun

In these murmurs, Ullom wonders how much modern technology has led us astray. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026 Even in hardboiled Hadestown, that would probably get a murmur of assent. — Chris Willman, Variety, 25 July 2026

Verb

Someone murmured something about bacon and eggs being more appropriate at this time of day. — Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026 Then Bryce Eldridge stepped to the plate and the crowd began to murmur. — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for murmur

Recent Examples of Synonyms for murmur

Noun

Our Chesapeake Bay Retriever dog saw them too and enthusiastically let out a small whine.

— Kody Lostroh, Denver Post, 5 Oct. 2026
The mystic whine of Christine Ott and Mathieu Gabry’s score carries us into a hidden world of ancient Thai deities living inside the mountain’s caves and tunnels.

— Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of whine

Noun

From the first take to the last, the scene evolves quite dramatically, and the final take is the one that most closely resembles the scene in the finished episode (though, sadly, Ned’s introductory muttering seems to have been cut for time).

— Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Sep. 2026
The opportunity to send a raucous Bell Centre crowd home muttering was there in Game 3.

— Eduardo A. Encina, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026

Definition of muttering

Verb

Some users have complained on social media that the agent accessed personal messages without authorization, which the company has disputed.

— Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026
In a 2023 memorandum obtained by Fox News Digital, Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield, who was then serving as the city council president, said residents complained about rodent infestations during a community meeting.

— Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of complain

Noun

In response, the watchdog group Campaign for Accountability filed a complaint Wednesday with the State Bar of California asking it to investigate whether Zacharia misrepresented herself as a lawyer in violation of California law.

— Jill Colvin, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
In response, the watchdog group Campaign for Accountability filed a complaint Wednesday with the State Bar of California asking them to investigate whether Zacharia misrepresented herself as a lawyer in violation of California law.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of complaint

Noun

Monday was a perfect example, when the two biggest drags on the S&P 500 were Nvidia and Micron, but were offset almost to the penny by gains in Apple and Meta, helping the index itself to finish a whisper from unchanged.

— Michael Santoli, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026
Lance Leipold has heard the whispers through the years that perhaps Kansas’ football coach doesn’t place enough emphasis on the yearly Sunflower Showdown against Kansas State.

— Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of whisper

Verb

In June 2016, Blair, who was returning to Los Angeles from a vacation in Cancun, Mexico, began screaming uncontrollably and causing chaos on the flight.

— Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026
Back in California, Dodgers fans screamed at their television sets.

— Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of scream

Verb

My brother looks at the floor, mumbles something, and then shuffles away from the table.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
After one take — which is usually not worth the celluloid it’s printed on, as the crew and the artists find their feet — Axl mumbled something about being freaked out and disappeared back into the depths of the building.

— Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of mumble

Browse Nearby Words

murky

murmur

murmured

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Murmur.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/murmur. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of murmur

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on murmur

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

fervid

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes