grunt

1 of 2

verb

grunted; grunting; grunts
Synonyms of gruntnext

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

Illustration of grunt
  • grunt 2

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
It is also fitted with a Seakeeper 2 that increases stability and DuoProp drives that turn all that grunt into precise acceleration. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 26 Jan. 2026 Phelan grunted as his rod bowed. Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 25 Jan. 2026
Noun
Instead, the incessant chatter is employees briefing their agents — commanding personal AI assistants to handle their grunt work and execute tasks. Rachyl Jones, semafor.com, 23 Jan. 2026 In terms of grunt, Vento is powered by two MTU engines, which help the megayacht hit a max speed of 17 knots. Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 23 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grunt

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of grunt was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grunt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grunt. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.

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

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