mumbly

Hard to hear

Mumbly describes speech that is indistinct, quiet, or hard to understand—words that seem to get lost in the mouth rather than coming out clearly.

A mumbly speaker forces listeners to lean in and ask for repetition.

The word can also describe a person prone to mumbling: He gets mumbly when he's tired.

inarticulate

slurred

Indistinctly articulated

garbledConfused and unintelligible
unintelligibleImpossible to understand
indistinctUnclear, hard to perceive

incoherent · muffled · unclear · stammering · stuttering · faltering · halting · jumbled · scrambled · tongue-tied

soft-spoken

whisper

Speech without full voice

murmurSoft, indistinct continuous sound
subduedReduced in intensity
faintWeak and indistinct

hushed · quiet · undertone · sotto voce · low · muted · gentle · breathy · barely audible · half-heard

shy

timid

Lacking courage or confidence

bashfulUncomfortably self-conscious
reservedRestrained in manner
reticentDisinclined to speak freely

hesitant · self-conscious · awkward · nervous · meek · diffident · unassertive · withdrawn · sheepish · tentative

Opposites

clarity of speech

mumblyarticulate

Express clearly, or well-spoken

clear · crisp · distinct · enunciated · well-spoken

volume/projection

mumblyloud

High in volume

booming · thunderous · resonant · stentorian · projecting

confidence in delivery

mumblyassertive

Confidently self-assured

forceful · bold · declarative · commanding · emphatic

Phrases

mumble rapRap with unclear enunciation

Family

mumble, mumbled, mumbling, mumbles, mumbler, mumblings

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G