grunt

²grunt

noun

Definition of GRUNT

1

a : the deep short sound characteristic of a hog b : a similar sound

2

[from the noise it makes when taken from the water] : any of a family (Haemulidae syn. Pomadasyidae) of chiefly tropical marine bony fishes

3

: a dessert made by dropping biscuit dough on top of boiling berries and steaming <blueberry grunt>

4

a : a United States army or marine foot soldier especially in the Vietnam War b : one who does routine unglamorous work —often used attributively <grunt work>

Examples of GRUNT

1. the grunt of a pig
2. I could hear the grunts of the movers as they lifted the heavy furniture.
3. He answered her with a grunt.
4. He was a grunt who worked his way up to become an officer.
5. He's just a grunt in the attorney's office.

Illustration of GRUNT

First Known Use of GRUNT

1553

Related to GRUNT

Synonyms: mumble, grunting, murmur, murmuring, mutter, muttering

Related Words: rumor, undertone, whisper; babble, babbling, blab, blabbing, chatter, chattering, drivel, driveling (or drivelling), gabble, gabbling, jabber, jabbering, maundering, prattle, prattling, rambling

Near Antonyms: goldbrick, shirker; drone, idler, lazybones, loafer, slouch, slug, sluggard

see all synonyms and antonyms

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