What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
murmured
Example
She murmured sweet nothings into his ear. [murmured: verb]
Example
The murmuring of the river was soothing to the ears. [murmuring: gerund or present participle]
muttered
Example
He muttered curses under his breath when he realized he had lost his wallet. [muttered: verb]
Example
She heard him muttering to himself as he walked away. [muttering: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Muttered is more commonly used than murmured in everyday language. Muttered is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while murmured is less common and refers to a specific type of low-volume speech.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between murmured and muttered?
Both murmured and muttered are informal words and are not typically used in formal settings.
