disgruntle

verb

dis·​grun·​tle dis-ˈgrən-tᵊl How to pronounce disgruntle (audio)
disgruntled; disgruntling dis-ˈgrənt-liŋ How to pronounce disgruntle (audio)
-ˈgrən-tᵊl-iŋ
Synonyms of disgruntlenext

transitive verb

: to make ill-humored or discontented
usually used as a participial adjective
… they were a very disgruntled crew.Flannery O'Connor
angry letters from disgruntled readers
disgruntlement noun

Examples of disgruntle in a Sentence

an employee, disgruntled by the restaurant owner's shabby treatment, turned him in to the IRS a crew disgruntled by a long voyage that provided no opportunity for recreation onshore
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Out on break, puffing on a cigarette, Dana is sucker-punched by a patient disgruntled over his wait time. Ew Staff December 5, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Dec. 2025 At the latter, socially inept Nick manages to make a conquest of Maxwell’s wife Cynthia (Lucy Punch), who’s disgruntled enough to appoint herself a third plotter against her own husband. Dennis Harvey, Variety, 27 Nov. 2025 The suspect, Patrick Joseph White, 30, may have been disgruntled over vaccine side effects before perpetrating the shooting, according to multiple reports. Melina Khan, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2025 Lawmakers disgruntled by the lengthy delay to unveil new evidence voted Tuesday to subpoena Maxwell to testify before the House Oversight Committee. Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 26 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for disgruntle

Word History

Etymology

dis- + gruntle to grumble, from Middle English gruntlen, frequentative of grunten to grunt

First Known Use

1682, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of disgruntle was in 1682

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Disgruntle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disgruntle. Accessed 15 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

disgruntle

verb
dis·​grun·​tle dis-ˈgrənt-ᵊl How to pronounce disgruntle (audio)
disgruntled; disgruntling -ˈgrənt-liŋ How to pronounce disgruntle (audio)
-ᵊl-iŋ
: to put in a bad mood
disgruntlement noun

More from Merriam-Webster on disgruntle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!