grouchy

adjective

ˈgrau̇-chē 

grouchier; grouchiest

: given to grumbling : peevish

grouchily

ˈgrau̇-chə-lē 

adverb

grouchiness

ˈgrau̇-chē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• choleric
• crabby
• cranky
• cross
• crotchety
• fiery
• grumpy
• irascible
• irritable
• peevish
• perverse
• pettish
• petulant
• prickly
• quick-tempered
• raspy
• ratty
• short-tempered
• snappish
• snappy
• snarky
• snippety
• snippy
• stuffy
• testy
• waspish

Examples of grouchy in a Sentence

I get grouchy when I'm tired.

a lack of sleep would make anyone grouchy

Recent Examples on the Web

Frye's comic foil was a grouchy widower played by George Gaynes, a character actor with credits going back 20 years who had just scored memorable roles in Tootsie and the Police Academy series. —Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 14 May 2025

The only people who can help Sara and Devin are Isaac (Taylor Kitsch), a grouchy mountain man, and Two Moons (Shawnee Pourier), a mute Shoshone girl fleeing her own violent past. —Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Jan. 2025

The Grinch will also host an ugly sweater party with green pancakes, green hot chocolate, and grouchy crafts. —Paula Conway, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024

There’s Loto, who designed and maintains the canoe; Kele, the grouchy elder chef who prepares vegetables; and Moni, a young storyteller and Maui fanboy. —Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 27 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1895, in the meaning defined above