grumble 1 of 2

noun

Definition of grumblenext
as in whine
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment a chorus of moans and grumbles when they found out that the overnight camping trip had been cancelled

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

grumble

2 of 2

verb

ˈgrəm-bəl How to pronounce grumble (audio)
1
as in to complain
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely he grumbled about how sore his feet were after standing all day

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to growl
to make a low heavy rolling sound heavily loaded trucks grumbling as they passed over the steel bridge

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of grumble
Noun
Nick Loftin then doubled in the third before Caglianone smashed his 21st homer to right field, inducing grumbles from the Dodger Stadium stands. — CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026 Later, another character in Dickensian period garb began asking him about fair wages, which drew only grumbles from Scrooge. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 23 July 2026
Verb
Gamer grumbles The GTA 6 preview follows a mixed reaction from players to the news that GTA 6 would only be released as a digital download, with no physical disc. — Jenni Reid,alex Buckmaster, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026 There was, unshockingly, grumbling around several of these expansions, too. — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grumble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grumble
  1. whine
  2. complain
  3. growl
  4. moan
  5. scream
  6. rumble
  7. complaint
Noun
  • The mystic whine of Christine Ott and Mathieu Gabry’s score carries us into a hidden world of ancient Thai deities living inside the mountain’s caves and tunnels.
    — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Meanwhile, turbo noise fills the cabin alongside the odd electric motor whine.
    — Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of whine
Verb
  • Journalists have complained that the lucrative and high-profile show is not subject to The Atlantic’s editorial rules, input, or oversight — yet a casual listener could easily take it for an Atlantic editorial product.
    — Max Tani, semafor.com, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Kelker-Kelly reportedly had complained of chest pain shortly before becoming unresponsive, and the circumstances appeared consistent with a medical event, police said.
    — Denise Petski, Deadline, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of complain
Verb
  • This past spring, the singer-guitarist announced that hernia repair surgery left him with a six-and-a-half–inch scar and doctors’ orders never to growl again.
    — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Dogs and cats may be triggered by this distinctive smell and show unusual behavior when skunks are nearby, such as sniffing or pawing the dirt around the burrow or becoming more protective by growling or hovering near the entrance.
    — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of growl
Noun
  • Lori can hardly speak, relying on a young nurse who sits at her side to translate her low, pained moans.
    — Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Wails and moans of grief interspersed the chanting, until the small coffin was lowered into the grave.
    — Victoria Davies, Rolling Stone, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of moan
Verb
  • Set the scene The Homestead screams quirky, artful, and vintage yet restored—capturing a whimsical, fairytale ambiance embellished with hints of Southern charm.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • In reviewing the body camera footage, police found that the child was standing on the stairwell at one point and was screaming while holding her left arm up in the air, according to the warrant affidavit.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of scream
Verb
  • Pardo watched as another adult elephant, likely Matisse’s sister, rumbled from a distance before the family came together, uniting with another series of rumbles, as if saying hello.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The plane rumbled down the runway, picking up speed towards the roiling sea.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of rumble
Noun
  • But their complaints come as Lecornu's government seeks to rein in public spending to appease skittish bond markets, which have punished France more harshly than many of its peers this year, amid a global bond market rout.
    — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
  • In a criminal complaint, prosecutors accused Zhang of spying on a son of Taiwan’s president outside his residence in the Seattle area at the behest of Chinese officials.
    — David Douglas, NBC news, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of complaint

Browse Nearby Words

gruffness
grumble
grumbled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grumble. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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