grunt

1 of 2

verb

ˈgrənt 

grunted; grunting; grunts

intransitive verb

: to utter a grunt

He didn't answer, only grunted.

transitive verb

: to utter with a grunt

"No," he grunted.

grunter noun

grunt

2 of 2

noun

plural grunts

1

a

: the deep short sound characteristic of a hog

b

: a similar sound

2

[from the noise it makes when taken from the water] : any of a family (Haemulidae synonym Pomadasyidae) of chiefly tropical marine bony fishes

3

: a dessert made by dropping biscuit dough on top of boiling berries and steaming

blueberry grunt

4

a

: a U.S. army or marine foot soldier especially in the Vietnam War

b

: one who does routine unglamorous work

—often used attributively

grunt work

Illustration of grunt

• grunt 2

Synonyms of grunt

Verb

• mutter
• mumble
• murmur
• mouth

Noun

• grunting
• mutter
• muttering
• whisper
• mumble

Examples of grunt in a Sentence

Verb

The workers were grunting with effort as they lifted the heavy furniture.

She grunted a few words in reply, then turned and walked away.

Noun

the grunt of a pig

I could hear the grunts of the movers as they lifted the heavy furniture.

He answered her with a grunt.

He was a grunt who worked his way up to become an officer.

He's just a grunt in the attorney's office.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Roaring and grunting, his body sleek with blood and sweat, Conan tussles and grapples with a series of opponents, dominating them all, while an audience of torch-wielding vulgarians shouts and howls at the pit’s lip. — Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 15 June 2026

Hippos grunt and grumble in the shallows, crocodiles sunbathe on sandbanks, elephants appear along the banks, while fish eagles call overhead as sunset approaches. — Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026

Noun

JadePuffer shows that while fully autonomous AI hackers have not yet arrived, agentic AI is starting to automate the grunt work of ransomware. — Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

As for grunt, the GTX90 is fitted with two MAN V-12 engines delivering 2,200 hp each for a top speed of 35 knots and a range of 300 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 30 knots. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 10 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English grunnettan, frequentative of grunian, of imitative origin

Noun

derivative of grunt entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1553, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for grunt

• blunt
• brunt
• bunt
• front
• shunt
• stunt
• affront
• confront
• exeunt
• forefront
• lakefront
• manhunt

Kids Definition

grunt

noun

ˈgrənt

1

a

: the deep short sound made by a hog

b

: a similar sound

2

: any of numerous marine fishes related to the snappers

grunt verb

grunter noun