GRUNTING Synonyms: 39 Similar and Opposite Words

grunting 1 of 2

noun

as in muttering

speech that is not clear enough to be understood says he talks in his sleep, but really it's just snorts and grunting

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grunting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of grunt

as in mumbling

to speak softly and unclearly was so absorbed with the video game that when asked what he wanted for dinner, he just grunted

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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 grunting

Noun

By pulling this string, the locals made an amplified grunting noise similar to that of a jaguar. — Delbert L. Chears, Outdoor Life, 5 Mar. 2026

Verb

Blocking and grunting turned into gasping as Roach sacked Bo Nix for a safety, putting his own football life in jeopardy. — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 6 Sep. 2026 More than 200 walruses were hauled out on the beach, grunting and groaning, wriggling and jostling for position. — Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 According to the complaint, Willis has been left completely incapacitated since a brief stint at Summit Malibu in early 2024, unable to move or communicate beyond occasionally opening her eyes and sometimes grunting. — Gustavo Turner, HollywoodReporter, 24 July 2026 Readers have come to know that there’s a quiet philosophy under all of that grunting and talking with his hands. — Niela Orr, Vulture, 20 July 2026 The statue is dragged via ropes by grunting Trojans before being lurched upright against a sacred temple, once again jostling those inside. — David MacK, CNN Money, 18 July 2026 Roaring and grunting, his body sleek with blood and sweat, Conan tussles and grapples with a series of opponents, dominating them all, while an audience of torch-wielding vulgarians shouts and howls at the pit’s lip. — Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 15 June 2026 Once their tray was stuffed with Terry Black’s brisket, pork ribs, dino ribs, sausage and turkey, Heder and Ramirez both carried the tray off the table, grunting. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2026 Immediately as Silva got out of his SUV, he was shot in the hand and soon after in the head, grunting and groaning in pain as blood spatter suddenly appeared on his uniform sleeve. — Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for grunting

Noun

From the first take to the last, the scene evolves quite dramatically, and the final take is the one that most closely resembles the scene in the finished episode (though, sadly, Ned’s introductory muttering seems to have been cut for time).

— Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Sep. 2026
The opportunity to send a raucous Bell Centre crowd home muttering was there in Game 3.

— Eduardo A. Encina, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026

Definition of muttering

Verb

Later that day, Rowley was drenched in sweat, rocking back and forth and mumbling incoherently as the poison – later identified as Novichok, a Russian nerve agent – took hold of him, too.

— Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
Next up, maybe lawmakers can do something about overly soft, mumbling dialogue preceded by deafening explosions.

— Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 25 June 2026

Definition of mumbling

Noun

As for grunt, Heed is powered by twin diesel Caterpillar C32 engines (totaling 2,230 hp) that give her a top speed of 17 knots, a cruising speed of 13 knots, and a range of 4,000 nautical miles.

— Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 30 Sep. 2026
All this grunt enables the Silverado 3500HD and Sierra 3500HD to hit a max tow rating of 38,000 pounds.

— Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of grunt

Verb

Though, it perhaps must be said that Johnson’s glazed-over, murmuring style of line delivery does grow grating.

— Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026
During a mound visit in the top of the first inning with the Colorado Rockies already trailing the Arizona Diamondbacks by two runs, a lone voice of encouragement emerged from an otherwise restless and murmuring crowd at Coors Field.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of murmuring

Noun

There are whispers in France of these protests transforming into another Yellow Vests movement, which was leaderless, nationwide and unified a broad church of grievances.

— Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026
Dyson Air Purifier Prime Day Deals The Dyson Hushjet is a compact, small-form air purifier that's whisper-quiet but powerful.

— Cierra Cowan, PC Magazine, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of whisper

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

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Synonyms of grunting

noun

verb

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