gripe

1 of 2

verb

ˈgrīp 

griped; griping

intransitive verb

1

: to complain with grumbling

Students griped about having too much homework.

2

: to experience pinching and spasmodic pain in the bowels

transitive verb

1

a

: irritate, vex

griped by the new regulations

b

: afflict, distress

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 the lack of advancement opportunities.

2

: a pinching spasmodic intestinal pain

—usually used in plural

3

archaic : clutch, grasp

broadly : control, mastery

Synonyms of gripe

Verb

• annoy
• bother
• bug
• irritate
• persecute

Noun

• whine
• complaint
• moan
• grievance
• fuss
• lament

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

Verb

From the beginning of the Australian Open, fans have griped about both the complexity and the cost of ESPN’s current offering. —Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 26 Jan. 2026

Other suffering fanbases might think their run of 14 consecutive seasons in the Premier League is nothing to gripe about, but Tim Crane, author of several West Ham books, explains today’s anxiety in historical context. —Michael Walker, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026

Noun

The wireless receiver can also block neighboring ports on laptops, however this isn't a major gripe. —New Atlas, 24 Jan. 2026

His gripes are reasonable given UCLA was the only Big Ten team to play five of its first seven conference games on the road – a stretch in which the Bruins went 4-3, with each of their losses coming away from Westwood. —Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 23 Jan. 2026

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

Rhymes for gripe

• hype
• lipe
• pipe
• ripe
• sipe
• skype
• snipe
• stipe
• stripe
• strype
• swipe
• tripe

Kids Definition

gripe

1 of 2 verb

ˈgrīp 

griped; griping

1

archaic : to seize firmly : grip

2

a

: afflict, distress

b

: irritate sense 1, vex

laziness gripes our teacher

3

: to cause or experience spasms of pain in the intestines

4

: complain sense 1

griper noun

gripe

2 of 2 noun

1

: grip entry 2 sense 1

2

a

: affliction sense 1

b

: complaint sense 1

3

: a spasm of pain in the intestines

Medical Definition

gripe

1 of 2 verb

ˈgrīp 

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