1
as in whines
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment
finished the tedious job without a murmur
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in complains
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
no prisoner dared murmur out loud
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in mutters
to speak softly and unclearly
a college professor who tends to murmur
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of murmurs
Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2026
That was reflected on the ice for much of his first season, too, when the murmurs were many.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 8 Feb. 2026
Sometimes there were murmurs around the police station from older officers about what Binion got up to back in the day.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Feb. 2026
For six months, those murmurs have persisted, with Simons often mentioned as a player the Celtics could move to acquire frontcourt help, lower their luxury tax bill or both.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 30 Jan. 2026
All of the murmurs point toward that.
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
After deciding to run it back in the offseason, there are murmurs that one of the team’s top players might be on the block sooner rather than later.
—Tyler Erzberger, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
For years, his controversies were tolerated—first as discreet murmurs behind gloved hands, then as uneasy conversations in corridors, and eventually as an inescapable topic of diplomatic small talk.
—Rob Shuter, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025
As Jarcovjáková travels from the former Czechoslovakia to Japan and West Berlin, navigating rejection and the lives of various lovers, the murmurs of voices, quiet footsteps and hums of crowded rooms accompany her striking black-and-white photography.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 5 Nov. 2025
Nneka M. Okona, Travel + Leisure, 15 Feb. 2026
Tess murmurs, having had no idea that Alex, who works in finance, has started moonlighting in standup.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2025
In between each narrative episode, like an intertitle in a silent film, Guanyin, the goddess of Mercy (the exquisite soprano Mei Gui Zhang), murmurs Buddhist verses from her floating lotus.
—Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 Nov. 2025
An aide for former first daughter Chelsea Clinton shut down murmurs about her entering the race.
—Kyler Alvord, PEOPLE, 12 Nov. 2025
But even amid the general euphoria, there recently have been murmurs about whether AI mania will prove to be an echo of the late 1990s dot-com boom and meltdown that plunged Silicon Valley into a funk that lasted several years.
—Staff, Austin American Statesman, 28 Aug. 2025
The River Coln murmurs gently here—weaving through golden buttercups and forget-me-nots, while plump ducks paddle lazily beneath canopies of willow.
—Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
There have also been murmurs around Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins and Small Business Administration chief Kelly Loeffler — but nothing more.
—Al Weaver, The Hill, 1 June 2025
Indeed, for the first time, murmurs throughout the semiconductor industry predicted the death of Moore’s Law.
—IEEE Spectrum, 21 Apr. 2020
Noun
There were plenty of rumors, plenty of murmurs, plenty of whispers surrounding the Florida Panthers entering the NHL trade deadline.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2026
That was reflected on the ice for much of his first season, too, when the murmurs were many.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 8 Feb. 2026
Sometimes there were murmurs around the police station from older officers about what Binion got up to back in the day.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Feb. 2026
For six months, those murmurs have persisted, with Simons often mentioned as a player the Celtics could move to acquire frontcourt help, lower their luxury tax bill or both.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 30 Jan. 2026
All of the murmurs point toward that.
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
After deciding to run it back in the offseason, there are murmurs that one of the team’s top players might be on the block sooner rather than later.
—Tyler Erzberger, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
For years, his controversies were tolerated—first as discreet murmurs behind gloved hands, then as uneasy conversations in corridors, and eventually as an inescapable topic of diplomatic small talk.
—Rob Shuter, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025
As Jarcovjáková travels from the former Czechoslovakia to Japan and West Berlin, navigating rejection and the lives of various lovers, the murmurs of voices, quiet footsteps and hums of crowded rooms accompany her striking black-and-white photography.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
Located at the foot of Petit Piton, guests are transported to a slice of tranquility, where the sound of a running stream murmurs in the background.
—Nneka M. Okona, Travel + Leisure, 15 Feb. 2026
Tess murmurs, having had no idea that Alex, who works in finance, has started moonlighting in standup.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2025
In between each narrative episode, like an intertitle in a silent film, Guanyin, the goddess of Mercy (the exquisite soprano Mei Gui Zhang), murmurs Buddhist verses from her floating lotus.
—Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle, 15 Nov. 2025
An aide for former first daughter Chelsea Clinton shut down murmurs about her entering the race.
—Kyler Alvord, PEOPLE, 12 Nov. 2025
But even amid the general euphoria, there recently have been murmurs about whether AI mania will prove to be an echo of the late 1990s dot-com boom and meltdown that plunged Silicon Valley into a funk that lasted several years.
—Staff, Austin American Statesman, 28 Aug. 2025
The River Coln murmurs gently here—weaving through golden buttercups and forget-me-nots, while plump ducks paddle lazily beneath canopies of willow.
—Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
There have also been murmurs around Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins and Small Business Administration chief Kelly Loeffler — but nothing more.
—Al Weaver, The Hill, 1 June 2025
Indeed, for the first time, murmurs throughout the semiconductor industry predicted the death of Moore’s Law.
—IEEE Spectrum, 21 Apr. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for murmurs
Noun
-
This chilling, starkly beautiful ambient piece draws Nebraska’s marginal whispers to the forefront and smears them across the picture plane.—
Sasha Geffen,
Pitchfork,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Jessica Alba's beau just quietly debunked whispers that the actress is secretly dating an NFL star.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Everyone complains about how expensive EVs are.—
Joel Feder,
The Drive,
12 Mar. 2026
-
At the same time, the Brighton captain, Pascal Gross, complains to referee Chris Kavanagh.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Your dad mutters for head movement, for cage cutting, for not playing off the back and creating distance.—
Matthew Shen Goodman,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The moans announced the doubt throughout Riviera’s 18th green amphitheater, a bowl full of thousands of fans unsure if the new guy could do it.—
Brody Miller,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
-
At the moment that B’Tselem says Hathaleen collapsed, the visuals are jostled but moans of pain can be heard.—
Sam Metz,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The natural world is a cacophony of squawks, screeches, coos, chirps, whinnies, grunts, growls, and more.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Ten minutes later the jaguar was only a quarter of a mile away, responding to the call with a loud series of grunts, very deep and coarse.—
Delbert L. Chears,
Outdoor Life,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
An explosion of green paint can be seen as Islas stumbles and screams in pain.—
James Queally,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Slayr raps, sings, and screams across this thing, producing most of it himself with frequent contributions from the producer wa.—
Mano Sundaresan,
Pitchfork,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Meanwhile, everyone is still running around like the Keystone Kops chasing Billie, passing an old lady in a bed eating Jell-O who mumbles something in Diné.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Feb. 2026
-
From the first moment, the vibe is off, as Brady looks earnestly at Rooney, the England legend mumbles and gives vague answers.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
If anonymous people are able to lodge complaints against ICE agents and send in photos and videos, how can the agents fight the accusations?—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Izen retired this month as the LAFD’s independent assessor, who reports to the commission and conducts audits of operations and the department’s handling of complaints.—
Paul Pringle,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Murmurs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/murmurs. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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