grunt 1 of 2

Definition of gruntnext
1
as in grunting
speech that is not clear enough to be understood preoccupied with what he was doing, the mechanic gave only a grunt when I asked when the car would be ready

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2
as in laborer
a person who does very hard or dull work we have an opening in the warehouse if you don't mind doing grunt work

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grunt

2 of 2

verb

as in to mutter
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 grunt
Noun
Diesel generators can, of course, kick in if more grunt is needed. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 13 June 2026 The second shot was an aggressive volley that was just about returned, but her third saw Williams swat the return volley away, accompanied by that trademark grunt that’s echoed around tennis venues for decades. Ben Church, CNN Money, 9 June 2026
Verb
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 See All Example Sentences for grunt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grunt
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
Noun
  • For American diners of diverse backgrounds, chop suey struck an enticing balance between novelty and decipherability, which propelled it to national popularity even as the US government moved to exclude Chinese laborers from entering the country in 1882.
    Ashley Rose Young, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 June 2026
  • Filipino laborers came to Mexico via colonialism, and adapted and adopted champoy with spices and chilies from Mexico to become chamoy.
    Stephanie Shih June 17, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2026
Verb
  • Bat met ball and, under his breath, Astros manager Joe Espada muttered an expletive.
    Chandler Rome, New York Times, 29 June 2026
  • In the shadows of the long-hut, the elders muttered among themselves—of portents and crops and weather and the storage of grain.
    Maggie O’Farrell, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
Noun
  • 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
Noun
  • If a co-worker asks for help, set a clear window so your schedule stays protected.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 27 June 2026
  • One of the options presented must be placing a premium on companies with at least 250 employees, who don’t offer health coverage, to offset the cost to taxpayers for having their workers enrolled in Medi-Cal, according to the deal.
    Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 27 June 2026
Verb
  • This succession was muddied thanks to the meddling of the King’s Hand, Otto Hightower, and the king’s own mumbled words on his deathbed to his wife, Alicent.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 20 June 2026
  • Claiborne mumbled his responses to questions.
    Alec Lewis, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Noun
  • Theories, speculation and whispers were hard to ignore, but even harder to prove.
    Dateline NBC, NBC news, 24 June 2026
  • The whispers about the 41-year-old turned louder.
    Russell Lewis, NPR, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • Or at least squeezed in a solid couch nap with baseball/golf/soccer/primo history programming murmuring in the background.
    Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 22 June 2026
  • Yoon murmurs something into her ear.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Grunt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grunt. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.

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