1
as in irritable
easily irritated or annoyed
a lack of sleep would make anyone grouchy
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in restless
given to complaining a lot
a grouchy kid who refuses to eat his vegetables
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grouchy
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
Townsend will play Norm Stinson, an excellent (and grouchy) veteran basketball coach who knows how to get the best out of his teams, but not always how to communicate.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2025
Leading up to kickoff of Belichick’s debut at Chapel Hill, college football, this community and certainly the TV networks were thrilled with the prospect of this grouchy old man turning an irrelevant football team into something worth watching.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grouchy
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
Townsend will play Norm Stinson, an excellent (and grouchy) veteran basketball coach who knows how to get the best out of his teams, but not always how to communicate.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2025
Leading up to kickoff of Belichick’s debut at Chapel Hill, college football, this community and certainly the TV networks were thrilled with the prospect of this grouchy old man turning an irrelevant football team into something worth watching.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grouchy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grouchy
Adjective
-
On the contrary, Juventus’ football soothed even the most irritable sections of the crowd.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
-
This can include feeling irritable, having a low frustration tolerance, feeling easily overstimulated, and having rapid shifts in emotion.—
Korin Miller,
SELF,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
While Moses was up on Mount Sinai receiving the tablets, the people of Israel grew restless and decided to melt down their jewelry and create a golden calf.—
Gal Beckerman,
The Atlantic,
8 Feb. 2026
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Benefits of Separate Sleep Spaces Experiencing restless sleep—or worse, not getting enough sleep—because one partner snores or has different sleep patterns can result in chronic sleep loss for the other partner and relationship tension for both.—
Michelle Mastro,
The Spruce,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
And who doesn’t relish the gothic details of an ancient manor and grumpy yet uniquely attractive duke that owns it?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Then there was the grumpy forty-something.—
John Winsor,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Lucy Van Pelt Lucy is the crabby kid who always has something up her sleeve.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Leah stayed crabby through dinner.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
As great as Antetokounmpo is, the harsh reality is that every player who gets tied to trade proposals as a result of his availability is likely displeased to be part of that discussion.—
Sam Amick,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
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At the end, Briar bumps into her and Ru looks displeased.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
17 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Neurotic, helpful, and extremely germophobic, Sindri is the complete opposite of his cranky, foul-mouthed brother and business partner, Brok.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
30 Jan. 2026
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That filmed play also starred Sutorius as a cranky, aging man struggling to communicate with a young female secretary about Lucy’s age.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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This canonical part has been played by some of the foremost women of the British stage, among them Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, and Edith Evans, who, in Anthony Asquith’s 1952 film adaptation, put a delightfully querulous spin on Lady Bracknell’s most indelible lines.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
17 Nov. 2025
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Trying to Kill Each Other' And Walken is marvelous — querulous, petty, cruel — as the Emperor.—
Tom Gliatto,
Peoplemag,
29 Feb. 2024
Adjective
-
New York — A nervous mood swept through markets Tuesday as stocks stumbled and bitcoin hit its lowest level since November 2024.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
3 Feb. 2026
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Glasser was still nervous (as if a last-minute, late-night trip to Staples wasn’t enough to wear on her nerves).—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grouchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grouchy. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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