Synonyms of grouchy

grouchy

adjective

ˈgrau̇-chē 

1

as in irritable

easily irritated or annoyed

a lack of sleep would make anyone grouchy

Synonyms & Similar Words

• irritable
• fiery
• grumpy
• crabby
• irascible
• peevish
• snappish
• crotchety
• petulant
• cranky
• testy
• snarky
• waspish
• choleric
• cross
• pettish
• snippy
• short-tempered
• out of humor
• passionate
• raspy
• stuffy
• out of sorts
• sensitive
• cantankerous
• ornery
• prickly
• ratty
• perverse
• quick-tempered
• curmudgeonly
• surly
• dyspeptic
• querulous
• snarly
• short
• disagreeable
• snippety
• fretful
• bilious
• belligerent
• snappy
• contentious
• pugnacious
• combative
• argumentative
• bellicose
• sulky
• tetchy
• ill-tempered
• quarrelsome
• sullen
• fractious
• pouty
• truculent
• ill-humored
• ill-natured
• bearish
• huffy
• scrappy
• disputatious
• cross-grained
• touchy
• off-color
• thin-skinned
• hot-blooded

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• friendly
• affable
• outgoing
• cordial
• genial
• gregarious
• amiable
• sociable
• sweet
• extroverted
• companionable
• good-natured
• agreeable
• easygoing
• carefree
• relaxed
• patient
• good-tempered
• stoic
• tolerant
• well-disposed
• long-suffering
• uncomplaining
• forbearing
• understanding
• happy-go-lucky
• obliging

2

as in restless

given to complaining a lot

a grouchy kid who refuses to eat his vegetables

Synonyms & Similar Words

• restless
• grumpy
• irritable
• crabby
• displeased
• cranky
• querulous
• nervous
• dissatisfied
• fussy
• uneasy
• fidgety
• twitchy
• disgruntled
• squirmy
• wiggly
• discontented
• fretful
• antsy
• restive
• cantankerous
• ornery
• irascible
• peevish
• snappish
• crotchety
• petulant
• testy
• wriggly
• worrisome
• waspish
• cross
• choleric
• snippy
• pettish
• short-tempered
• perverse
• quick-tempered
• snappy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• patient
• stoic
• tolerant
• amiable
• long-suffering
• uncomplaining
• forbearing
• good-natured
• gracious
• agreeable
• affable
• genial
• good-humored
• complaisant
• good-tempered
• obliging
• accommodating
• well-disposed
• easygoing
• relaxed
• laid-back

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of grouchy

For now, the contrast between Martin and his patients has a productive friction that gives Charles plenty of grouchy misanthropy to work with. — Alison Herman, Variety, 4 Jan. 2026

Drawing inspiration from partner Matt Sieve’s Midwestern roots, the 5,000-square-foot restaurant takes its name from a notoriously grouchy cook who ran his family’s 100-year-old restaurant in Alexandria, Minnesota. — Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Dec. 2025

But for younger generations, Ron Howard's 2000 adaptation starring a ghoulishly grouchy Jim Carrey is just as essential. — Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Dec. 2025

In last week's two-episode premiere we were introduced to the happiness pandemic that's spread around the world and the harrowing story of the one grouchy woman left to save the planet from unbridled happiness. — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 14 Nov. 2025