gripe

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

Synonyms of gripe

• annoy
• bother
• bug
• irritate
• persecute

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 on the Web

Some business owners have griped about the latter, which does seem to have been announced lateish, but even a trucking-industry representative quoted in Crain’s said that the administration was working to minimize the effects on its people. —Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 4 June 2026

The return of Rachel Reilly was gloriously entertaining, there was no static majority alliance simply mowing down the opposition, and there were griping eliminations along the way. —Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 4 June 2026

There’s a bit of griping about the power of Michele Kang in women’s football. —Phil Hay, New York Times, 28 May 2026

Texas complaint Months after Miami received a College Football Playoff invitation over Texas, the Longhorns are still griping. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 28 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

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