underbreath
Barely audible whisper
Under one's breath—quietly, in a murmur or whisper not meant to be fully heard: She muttered something underbreath.
The word usually appears in the phrase under one's breath, but underbreath works as a single adverb.
Someone speaking underbreath may be cursing, complaining, or making a comment they don't want overheard.
Soft, indistinct continuous sound
- mutterSpeak low and indistinctly
- mumbleSpeak softly, indistinctly
- sotto voceIn an undertone
- hushAbsence of sound
soft · low · inaudible · quiet · hushed · breathe · sigh · sibilant
Share private matters
- privateRestricted to certain parties
- confidentialMeant to stay secret
- discreetCareful to avoid notice
- hiddenKept out of sight
covert · hush-hush · conspiratorial · aside · between us · off-the-record · guarded · clandestine
Unconfirmed circulating story
- whisper campaignOrganized spreading of damaging rumors
- innuendoOblique disparaging remark
- insinuationIndirect, usually negative suggestion
- hintIndirect suggestion
suggestion · tittle-tattle · backbiting · hearsay · aside · slander · defamation · smear
murmur
Soft, indistinct continuous sound
- mutterSpeak low and indistinctly
- mumbleSpeak softly, indistinctly
- sotto voceIn an undertone
hush · soft · low · inaudible · quiet · hushed · breathe · sigh · sibilant · barely audible
confide
Share private matters
- privateRestricted to certain parties
- confidentialMeant to stay secret
- discreetCareful to avoid notice
hidden · covert · hush-hush · conspiratorial · aside · between us · off-the-record · guarded · clandestine · veiled
rumor
Unconfirmed circulating story
- whisper campaignOrganized spreading of damaging rumors
- innuendoOblique disparaging remark
- insinuationIndirect, usually negative suggestion
hint · suggestion · tittle-tattle · backbiting · hearsay · aside · slander · defamation · smear · backstabbing
sneaky
Stealthily deceptive
skulking · cagey · evasive · sidelong · sidewise · secretive · undetected · unnoticed · subtle · inconspicuous
grumble
Low, discontented murmuring
snark · barb · jab · dig · complaint · gripe · insult · oath · expletive · profanity
underbreathopenly
Without hiding anything
publicly · on the record · plainly · forthrightly · outspokenly
under, breath, breathing, underneath, undertake, breathless, undertone, subvocalization