mumble
Talk into chest
To mumble is to speak indistinctly, with the mouth partially closed or words running together: He mumbled an apology and left.
Mumbling makes speech hard to understand—the opposite of speaking clearly.
As a noun, a mumble is such indistinct speech: His response was an inaudible mumble.
The word can suggest shyness, reluctance, or simply poor articulation.
Soft, indistinct continuous sound
- mutterSpeak low and indistinctly
- slurInsulting group label
- garbleDistort into confusion
- stammerSpeak with involuntary repetitions
stutter · inaudible · unintelligible · muffled · gibberish · incoherent · ramble · stumble
Speak low and indistinctly
Speech without full voice
- murmurSoft, indistinct continuous sound
- sotto voceIn an undertone
- underbreathSpeech barely vocalized
- hushedReduced to silence
quiet · low · subdued · faint · breathy · soft-spoken · hush · gentle
Uncomfortably self-conscious
- timidLacking courage or confidence
- nervousUneasy and apprehensive
- hesitantSlow to act
- reservedRestrained in manner
self-conscious · awkward · embarrassed · diffident · withdrawn · introverted · reticent · sheepish
murmur
Soft, indistinct continuous sound
stammer · stutter · inaudible · unintelligible · muffled · gibberish · incoherent · ramble · stumble · falter
mutter
Speak low and indistinctly
whisper
Speech without full voice
- murmurSoft, indistinct continuous sound
- sotto voceIn an undertone
- underbreathSpeech barely vocalized
hushed · quiet · low · subdued · faint · breathy · soft-spoken · hush · gentle · restrained
bashful
Uncomfortably self-conscious
reserved · self-conscious · awkward · embarrassed · diffident · withdrawn · introverted · reticent · sheepish · meek
mumbleenunciate
Speak with clarity
articulate · enunciation · elocute · declaim · annunciate
- mumble rapRap with unclear enunciation
mumbled, mumbling, mumbles, mumbler, mumbly, mumblers, mumblings