grouse

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈgrau̇s 

plural grouse or grouses

: any of various chiefly ground-dwelling birds (family Tetraonidae) that are usually of reddish-brown or other protective color and have feathered legs and that include many important game birds

grouse

2 of 3

verb

groused; grousing

intransitive verb

: complain, grumble

groused about the higher prices

grouser noun

grouse

3 of 3

noun (2)

: complaint

listened to their grouses about working conditions

Synonyms

Verb

• beef
• bellyache
• bitch
• bleat
• carp
• caterwaul
• complain
• crab
• croak
• fuss
• gripe
• grizzle
• grouch
• growl
• grumble
• grump
• holler
• inveigh
• keen
• kick
• kvetch
• maunder [chiefly British]
• moan
• murmur
• mutter
• nag
• repine
• scream
• squawk
• squeal
• wail
• whimper
• whine
• whinge [British]
• yammer
• yawp
• yaup
• yowl

Noun (2)

• beef
• bitch
• bleat
• carp
• complaint
• fuss
• grievance
• gripe
• grouch
• grumble
• holler
• kvetch
• lament
• miserere
• moan
• murmur
• plaint
• squawk
• wail
• whimper
• whine
• whinge [British]
• yammer

Examples of grouse in a Sentence

Verb

She's been grousing to her boss about the working conditions.

Fans have groused that the higher prices are unfair.

Noun (2)

a forum in which employees can air their grouses

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Small summer blooms attract butterflies and luna moths, while late season berries are favored by robins, flickers, and grouse. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2025

Take a seat for a round-the-clock show: the ruffed grouse, cottontail rabbits, waterfowl and occasional muskrats that wander about, lured by the lake. —R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025

Verb

When the Giants left, Yankees fans were grousing about him with a mixture of irritation, respect and envy. —Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025

Presidents have groused about being checked by courts for decades. —Graham Underwood, arkansasonline.com, 17 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

origin unknown

Verb

origin unknown

Noun (2)

derivative of grouse entry 2

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1531, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1887, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1918, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing grouse

• black grouse
• ruffed grouse
• sage grouse

Rhymes for grouse

• blouse
• bouse
• douse
• dowse
• haus
• louse
• mouse
• rouse
• spouse
• youse
• alehouse
• almshouse

Kids Definition

grouse

1 of 2 noun

ˈgrau̇s 

plural grouse or grouses

: any of various plump-bodied game birds that are usually reddish or grayish brown with feathers on the legs

grouse

2 of 2 verb

groused; grousing

: complain sense 1, grumble

grouser noun