gripe

verb \ ˈgrīp \

|Updated on: 15 Jun 2018

Examples: gripe in a Sentence

Definition of gripe

griped; griping

transitive verb

1 archaic : seize, grasp

2 a : afflict, distress

b : irritate, vex

griped by the new regulations

3 : to cause pinching and spasmodic pain in the bowels of

intransitive verb

1 : to experience gripes

2 : to complain with grumbling

Students griped about having too much homework.

—

griper

noun

See gripe defined for English-language learners

See gripe defined for kids

Examples of gripe in a Sentence

All of the workers were griping about the new regulations.
The students griped that they had too much homework.

Recent Examples of gripe from the Web

And institutional-minded lawmakers will certainly gripe that any changes that strip away majority power would make the House function more like the Senate, with its complex rules that protect the minority.

— lisa mascaro, The Christian Science Monitor, "Centrist House members see opportunity with Ryan's retirement," 7 June 2018
One of the many things Bostonians love to argue (or gripe) about is the layout of the city.

— nina maclaughlin, BostonGlobe.com, "Book design by icon king Chermayeff; New England Society book awards;," 25 May 2018
But the sale will provide a handsome pay-out for providers of venture capital there, who had started to gripe about the lack of exits from dozens of investments in the once-frothy Indian startup scene.

— The Economist, "Walmart takes a second shot at the Indian market," 9 May 2018
Some of this combat felt all too simple and button-mashy, which was a particular KH2 gripe for more serious RPG fans, but a few of the link attacks offered surprisingly high-level battlefield management options.

— sam machkovech, Ars Technica, "Kingdom Hearts 3 gameplay world premiere: Pixar’s magic even works on RPGs," 18 May 2018
Former devotees routinely gripe on social media that the software has become too difficult to use.

— dina bass and nate lanxon, chicagotribune.com, "Don't skype me: How Microsoft turned consumers against a beloved brand," 14 May 2018
The flow of tweets has ballooned since the MTA installed wireless internet underground, giving the city’s five million daily subway commuters the opportunity to gripe in real-time.

— mike vilensky, WSJ, "Worst Job in America: Responding to Irate Tweets From New York City Subway Riders," 8 May 2018
Former devotees routinely gripe on social media that the software has become too difficult to use.

— dina bass and nate lanxon, latimes.com, "Don't Skype me: How Microsoft turned users against its beloved video-chat program," 11 May 2018
Members of the House Appropriations Committee -- which Harris sits on -- have been known to gripe about Gee not being present at their hearings in Baton Rouge.

— julia o'donoghue, NOLA.com, "Louisiana House kills bill that might have stopped health secretary from practicing medicine," 1 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gripe.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of gripe

Middle English, from Old English grīpan; akin to Old High German grīfan to grasp, Lithuanian griebti

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

gripe Synonyms

Phrases

kick up a fuss;

gripe

noun

Definition of gripe

1 archaic : clutch, grasp; broadly : control, mastery

2 : a pinching spasmodic intestinal pain —usually used in plural

3 : grievance, complaint

Her main gripe was his utter lack of ambition.

Examples of gripe in a Sentence

I would rather not listen to gripes about your latest disasters in the dating game.

Recent Examples of gripe from the Web

Everyone’s life is filled with mundane small talk and, besides, nothing brings people together like shared petty gripes.

— thomas harlander, Los Angeles Magazine, "I Live in Los Angeles and Everything You Assume About Me Is True," 7 June 2018
Despite such gripes, Ethiopia’s experience suggests that even poor countries can start extending safety-nets.

— The Economist, "Ethiopia’s scheme to help the poor is setting an example," 31 May 2018
Allies of Nielsen note that some of the president's gripes are with immigration judges that cannot process people quickly enough, caravans that cannot be immediately stopped by DHS due to asylum laws and international agreements.

— josh dawsey, courant.com, "'We're closed!': Trump directs his anger over immigration at Homeland Security secretary," 25 May 2018
Taggart’s main gripe with the current state of FSU’s facilities is a lack of efficiency.

— safid deen, OrlandoSentinel.com, "FSU's Willie Taggart adamant on Seminoles' need for standalone football facility," 16 May 2018
Staffers at the New York Times and The Atlantic have both held gripe sessions, which leaked publicly, to air internal complaints about their conservative columnists.

— jonathan chait, Daily Intelligencer, "Why Liberal Media Need Conservative Columnists," 10 May 2018
Allies of Nielsen note that some of the president’s gripes are with immigration judges that cannot process people quickly enough, caravans that cannot be immediately stopped by DHS due to asylum laws and international agreements.

— josh dawsey and nick miroff, BostonGlobe.com, "‘We’re closed!’: Trump directs his anger over immigration at Homeland Security secretary," 25 May 2018
Allies of Nielsen note that some of the president’s gripes are with immigration judges that cannot process people quickly enough, caravans that cannot be immediately stopped by DHS due to asylum laws and international agreements.

— author: josh dawsey, nick miroff, Anchorage Daily News, "‘We’re closed!’: Trump directs his anger over immigration at Homeland Security secretary," 25 May 2018
The longer answer is that Cohen wasn’t the only person at a music label with a gripe about YouTube.

— peter kafka, Recode, "Music legend Lyor Cohen works for YouTube now, and he wants you to pay $10 a month," 22 May 2018

Origin and Etymology of gripe

see ¹gripe

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

gripe Synonyms

Synonyms

beef, bleat, carp, complaint, fuss, grievance, grouch, grouse, grumble, holler, lament, moan, murmur, plaint, squawk, wail, whimper, whine, yammer;

Near Antonyms

commendation, compliment, plaudit;

acclaim, applause, praise;

approval, endorsement (also indorsement), sanction;

GRIPE Defined for English Language Learners

gripe

verb

Definition of gripe for English Language Learners

: to complain about something

GRIPE Defined for Kids

gripe

verb \ ˈgrīp \

Definition of gripe for Students

griped; griping

: complain

gripe

noun

Definition of gripe for Students

: complaint 1

Medical Dictionary

gripe

verb \ ˈgrīp \

medical Definition of gripe

griped; griping

transitive verb

: to cause pinching and spasmodic pain in the bowels of

intransitive verb

: to experience gripes

gripe

noun

medical Definition of gripe

: a pinching spasmodic intestinal pain —usually used in plural

Learn More about gripe

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gripe

Definition of gripe

griper

Examples of gripe in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of gripe

gripe Synonyms

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gripe

Definition of gripe

Examples of gripe in a Sentence

Recent Examples of gripe from the Web

Origin and Etymology of gripe

gripe Synonyms

Synonyms

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GRIPE Defined for English Language Learners

gripe

Definition of gripe for English Language Learners

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gripe

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gripe

Definition of gripe for Students

Medical Dictionary

gripe

medical Definition of gripe

gripe

medical Definition of gripe

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