gripe

1 of 2

verb

griped; griping

intransitive verb

1
: to complain with grumbling
Students griped about having too much homework.
2
: to experience gripes

transitive verb

1
a
: irritate, vex
griped by the new regulations
2
: to cause pinching and spasmodic pain in the bowels of
3
archaic : seize, grasp
griper noun

gripe

2 of 2

noun

1
: grievance, complaint
Her main gripe was his utter lack of ambition.
2
: a pinching spasmodic intestinal pain
usually used in plural
3
archaic : clutch, grasp
broadly : control, mastery

Examples of gripe in a Sentence

Verb All of the workers were griping about the new regulations. The students griped that they had too much homework. Noun I would rather not listen to gripes about your latest disasters in the dating game.
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.
Verb
Frequently, the two will play up the minor age difference, with Mescal rolling his eyes every time O’Connor gripes about something timely and trendy. Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2025 The administration has griped about the large fines that the EU has levied as a result of their privacy laws and antitrust laws that are significantly more stringent and enforced more frequently in Europe than in the United States. David Goldman, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
Our only real gripe is a lack of storage and connectivity; door pockets are small and shallow, the center armrest holds no more than a single phone, and there’s just one USB-A plug and no wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. Peter Nelson, Robb Report, 1 Oct. 2025 Labor In a section of the report focused on workers’ rights and safety, the NCP reiterates its gripes about lack of supplier audit documentation and adherence to local law rather than international standards. Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 1 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gripe

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

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

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of gripe was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gripe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gripe. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

gripe

1 of 2 verb
griped; griping
1
archaic : to seize firmly : grip
2
b
: irritate sense 1, vex
laziness gripes our teacher
3
: to cause or experience spasms of pain in the intestines
4
griper noun

gripe

2 of 2 noun
1
2
3
: a spasm of pain in the intestines

Medical Definition

gripe

1 of 2 verb
griped; griping

transitive verb

: to cause pinching and spasmodic pain in the bowels of

intransitive verb

: to experience gripes

gripe

2 of 2 noun
: a pinching spasmodic intestinal pain
usually used in plural

More from Merriam-Webster on gripe

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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