mumbled; mumbling
ˈməm-b(ə-)liŋ 
: to utter words in a low confused indistinct manner : mutter
1
: to utter with a low inarticulate voice
2
: to chew or bite with or as if with toothless gums
Examples of mumble in a Sentence
He mumbled something and then left.
He mumbled “Goodbye” and then left.
I can't understand you when you mumble.
Recent Examples on the Web
And so did more than a half-century of young male actors who studiously tried to match their idol mumble for mumble and motivation for motivation.
—
Ty Burr, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024
Omar shrugged his shoulders, mumbling under his breath, and stood by her head.
—Jared Lemus, The Atlantic, 9 Mar. 2024
Dozens of good jokes would get thrown out just because one of them had mumbled the line through a mouthful of bacon.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 24 Aug. 2023
Two years earlier, his consent to tell his story was mumbled in words only Dusseault could interpret.
—Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024
The meal was mostly silent, save for the symphony of metal forks or spoons and my father, the lone vocalist, mumbling or moaning through bites.
—Hanif Abdurraqib, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2024
What now, Canada? … After Roger Goodell fumbled/mumbled away Jim Trotter’s question during last year’s Super Bowl press conference, Roger’s song and dance will be invitation only (or, for those who can’t say no).
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Feb. 2024
Then, with their mouths still full of chocolate from the reenactment, the actresses mumbled their way through the announcement of the winner for outstanding comedy series: The Bear.
—Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 16 Jan. 2024
The crowd mumbles and boos, showing why Christie remains an afterthought for many GOP voters.
—Tim Hanrahan, WSJ, 7 Dec. 2023
Ty Burr, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024
Omar shrugged his shoulders, mumbling under his breath, and stood by her head.
—Jared Lemus, The Atlantic, 9 Mar. 2024
Dozens of good jokes would get thrown out just because one of them had mumbled the line through a mouthful of bacon.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 24 Aug. 2023
Two years earlier, his consent to tell his story was mumbled in words only Dusseault could interpret.
—Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024
The meal was mostly silent, save for the symphony of metal forks or spoons and my father, the lone vocalist, mumbling or moaning through bites.
—Hanif Abdurraqib, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2024
What now, Canada? … After Roger Goodell fumbled/mumbled away Jim Trotter’s question during last year’s Super Bowl press conference, Roger’s song and dance will be invitation only (or, for those who can’t say no).
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Feb. 2024
Then, with their mouths still full of chocolate from the reenactment, the actresses mumbled their way through the announcement of the winner for outstanding comedy series: The Bear.
—Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 16 Jan. 2024
The crowd mumbles and boos, showing why Christie remains an afterthought for many GOP voters.
—Tim Hanrahan, WSJ, 7 Dec. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mumble.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near mumble
Cite this Entry
“Mumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mumble. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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