1
as in complainer
an irritable and complaining person
an uncle who is a real grouch when he's sick
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pouts
a state of resentful silence or irritability
having been proven wrong, he had a grouch on for hours afterwards
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3
as in whine
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment
it wouldn't be a workday if we didn't hear his daily grouch about how bad the coffee is
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as in to complain
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
always seems to be grouching about the weather
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grouch
John Tuohy, The Indianapolis Star, 2 Aug. 2024
Hate to be a grouch when legions of social media film bros are breathlessly worshipping at the altar of The Demi-God of Cinema, George Miller, but Furiosa is a big step down from Mad Max: Fury Road.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 May 2024
Gary Oldman plays Jackson Lamb, the brilliant grouch in question.
—Lili Loofbourow, Washington Post, 29 Nov. 2023
The group’s success on the show pleased Mandel, who joked that viewers see him as a grouch.
—USA TODAY, 31 Aug. 2023
See All Example Sentences for grouch
Noun
Though the kitty is getting long in the tooth, Oscar is no grouch; his name is an acronym for OutSide Cat at Rear.
—John Tuohy, The Indianapolis Star, 2 Aug. 2024
Hate to be a grouch when legions of social media film bros are breathlessly worshipping at the altar of The Demi-God of Cinema, George Miller, but Furiosa is a big step down from Mad Max: Fury Road.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 May 2024
Gary Oldman plays Jackson Lamb, the brilliant grouch in question.
—Lili Loofbourow, Washington Post, 29 Nov. 2023
The group’s success on the show pleased Mandel, who joked that viewers see him as a grouch.
—USA TODAY, 31 Aug. 2023
See All Example Sentences for grouch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grouch
Noun
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Pretty soon, the whine of the gears, the shriek of the diff, and the sheer cacophony of combustion make conversation all but impossible.—
Tim Pitt,
Robb Report,
28 May 2025
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Men clad in DayGlo vests and hardhats chatted as the whine of a flying cargo drone echoed through the valley.—
Ben Ayers,
Outside Online,
23 May 2025
Verb
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His team-mates celebrated; the Boca players complained furiously, surrounding the referee and pointing at Marchesin.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
21 June 2025
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Many have complained that American alternatives for some foreign imports may be unavailable or are too expensive.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
20 June 2025
Noun
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Jelly crab flats These jelly shoes should be transparent with a geometric pattern.—
Arancha Gamo,
Glamour,
29 June 2025
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Catch some crabs in the salt marsh at Oyster Landing, then buy a few pounds of shrimp from Seven Seas Seafood to throw in the pot with them.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
29 June 2025
Noun
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When purchasing water for your family, purchase extra water to have for your pets to drink, and keep a set of food and water bowls in the room for feeding times.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 June 2025
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Child and pet safety: Never leave young children and pets unattended in vehicles, especially when car interiors can reach lethal temperatures within minutes.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
26 June 2025
Noun
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Officers responded to a burglary complaint about 7:30 a.m. Sunday, when employees at the city’s Parks and Recreation Department told cops someone was stuck in the chimney of a building in Rockwell Park, Bristol Police Lt. Desmond Wilson said.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
23 June 2025
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The Biden administration warned that would lead to a huge backlog of complaints and strain the government’s resources, should thousands of borrowers now have to present their cases in court, and would harm borrowers by forcing them to default on their loans in order to possibly get relief.—
Alison Durkee,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
Verb
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The Pacers' star went down and immediately screamed in pain.—
Matt Levine,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 June 2025
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White Zinnias These hardy flowers from Mexico have had my heart for years; their bold colors simply scream summer.—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
21 June 2025
Noun
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As the seasons changed, her mother would remind her when panthers and bears were roaming around.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
28 June 2025
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An escaped prisoner requires guards to risk their lives as well among gators, pythons and bears.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 June 2025
Noun
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Dehydration can worsen feelings of anxiety and irritability.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
26 June 2025
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Common issues include sleep problems, appetite loss, irritability, and mood swings.—
Sarah Jividen,
Verywell Health,
26 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grouch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grouch. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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