Illustration of grunt
- grunt 2
grunted; grunting; grunts
: to utter a grunt
: to utter with a grunt
grunter
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
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
Andrew Kay, Harpers Magazine, 28 May 2025
That’s where the name came from, the R and the J and the sound pigs make grunting.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2025
Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 5 June 2025
That means a 500-W motor with similar incline-busting grunt and top speed.
—New Atlas, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grunt
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Verb
There were grunting high fives as, one after another, all cleared the exposure.
—Andrew Kay, Harpers Magazine, 28 May 2025
That’s where the name came from, the R and the J and the sound pigs make grunting.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2025
Noun
Refinements since then pushed the output to 300 hp and 365 lb-ft, offering a mild edge over the outgoing engine, but a new six-speed automatic replacing the old four-speed one meant the SUV could make better use of the grunt on hand.
—Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 5 June 2025
That means a 500-W motor with similar incline-busting grunt and top speed.
—New Atlas, 31 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grunt
Cite this Entry
“Grunt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grunt. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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