gruel

play

noun gru·el \ ˈgrü-əl \

Definition of gruel

1 :a thin porridge

[from to get one's gruel to accept punishment]

chiefly British :punishment

3 :something that lacks substance or significance

the argument was thin gruel

See gruel defined for English-language learners

See gruel defined for kids

Recent Examples of gruel from the Web

But unfortunately, both his words and the 600 or so U.S. reinforcements are thin gruel when bets are being placed on the Russians doing something mischievous in September.

— chicagotribune.com, "Is the US ready for Russia's largest military exercises since the Cold War?," 2 Aug. 2017
Conscientious (and frequently exhausted) mothers awoke at the crack of dawn to stand over a hot, wood-burning stove for hours on end, cooking and stirring gruels or mush made of barley, cracked wheat, or oats.

— howard markel, Smithsonian, "The Secret Ingredient in Kellogg’s Corn Flakes Is Seventh-Day Adventism," 28 July 2017
Confined to a prison in the Republic of Mordovia, she was fed gruel, lost 40 pounds and endured temperatures that plunged to 40 below zero.

— sam roberts, New York Times, "Irina Ratushinskaya, Soviet Dissident and Writer, Dies at 63," 13 July 2017
Mehetabel was treating her daughter Sarah Huntington (Adriana Mazza), one of her 10 children with gruel.

— kitty leshay, Courant Community, "Huntington Homestead Museum Opens For Second Season," 14 June 2017
Helping keep them fed is a volunteer corps of about 80, who work two-hour shifts weighing kittens, taking notes on their eating habits and mixing gruel for those more than a month or so old.

— karin brulliard, The Denver Post, "A California kitten nursery saves tiny lives in a city aiming to become “no kill”," 6 June 2017
Working an absurd amount of hours, spending no money, eating gruel three times a day.

— jennifer mazi, photos by rich sugg,, kansascity.com, "From homestead to farm stand, how a KC couple grows in the city," 23 May 2017
In fact, this is pretty thin gruel on which to make sweeping claims about the alleged threat posed to the United States by these seven countries, especially because the allegations often did not concern alleged terrorist acts in the United States.

— the washington post, The Mercury News, "Stephen Miller’s claim that 72 from banned countries were implicated in ‘terroristic activity’," 13 Feb. 2017
Royal adviser suggested retraining self to think of drumsticks not as delicious treat but as hay for horses or gruel for peasants.

— kate greathead, The New Yorker, "The King’s New Year’s Fitness Journal," 14 Jan. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gruel.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of gruel

Middle English grewel, from Anglo-French gruel, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English grūt grout

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

GRUEL Defined for English Language Learners

gruel

play

noun

Definition of gruel for English Language Learners

: a thin food made by boiling oatmeal or some other grain in water or milk

GRUEL Defined for Kids

gruel

play

noun gru·el \ ˈgrü-əl \

Definition of gruel for Students

:a thin porridge

Learn More about gruel

See words that rhyme with gruel Britannica English: Translation of gruel for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up gruel? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

gruel

Definition of gruel

Recent Examples of gruel from the Web

Origin and Etymology of gruel

Other Food Terms

GRUEL Defined for English Language Learners

gruel

Definition of gruel for English Language Learners

GRUEL Defined for Kids

gruel

Definition of gruel for Students

Learn More about gruel

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

holus-bolus

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

Silent Letters

'So Long': A Common But Mysterious Goodbye

"Immune to" or "Immune from"?

What's Going On With 'Nonplussed'?

Ask the Editors

Words of the Year: 1066

How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Irregardless

Weird Plurals

Word Games

Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

Name that Color!

How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

SCRABBLE® Sprint

Trending: Ivanka: "An 'Otherwise' Incredible Day"

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes

'So Long': A Common But Mysterious Goodbye

Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

Words of the Year: 1066

gruel

Definition of gruel

Explore Merriam-Webster

Recent Examples of gruel from the Web

Origin and Etymology of gruel

Other Food Terms

GRUEL Defined for English Language Learners

gruel

Definition of gruel for English Language Learners

GRUEL Defined for Kids

gruel

Definition of gruel for Students

Learn More about gruel

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Trending: Ivanka: "An 'Otherwise' Incredible Day"

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes

'So Long': A Common But Mysterious Goodbye

Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

Words of the Year: 1066