grouchy

adjective

ˈgrau̇-chē How to pronounce grouchy (audio)
Definition of grouchynext
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

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.
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 See All Example Sentences for grouchy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grouchy
  1. irritable
  2. restless
  3. grumpy
  4. crabby
  5. displeased
  6. cranky
  7. querulous
  8. nervous
Adjective
  • Bill Murray plays Phil Connors, an irritable, cynical weatherman sent to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to report a story about the town’s quaint groundhog ceremony.
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Whether a balanced market can be achieved with competing cartels will be an interesting experiment in a sometimes-irritable trade relationship.
    — Tim Treadgold, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of irritable
Adjective
  • Jackass is for the 12-year-old boy within us all, one that’s a little bit rowdy and a little bit restless and a little bit destructive, but still sort of innocent about it all.
    — Tim Grierson, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026
  • His work thrives on the incoherence of his own restless curiosity.
    — Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of restless
Adjective
  • The cast is led by Tolman, with Grier playing the grumpy emergency physician Ron.
    — Selome Hailu, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Jeremy Swift returns as Higgins, and Brett Goldstein reprises his role of the grumpy former footballer, Roy Kent.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of grumpy
Adjective
  • For the priests, this was a case of demonic possession due to witch-craft, and Mary’s crabby, aloof neighbor Elizabeth Jackson was the prime witch suspect.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
  • The show followed the destitute Cuylers — father Early, his illegitimate son Rusty, his meth-loving sister Lily, and his crabby grandmother Granny — and their various moneymaking high jinks.
    — Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026
Definition of crabby
Adjective
  • The Firm is, unsurprisingly, displeased at the idea of more dirty laundry coming to light.
    — Emma Banks, InStyle, 7 July 2026
  • The shot sailed over the bar before England keeper Jordan Pickford shouted at his defenders, clearly displeased with the lack of resistance in their own half.
    — Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 27 June 2026
Definition of displeased
Adjective
  • One TikToker refused to give up her parking spot and instead savored her food-court hot dog to get back at a cranky driver who honked at her.
    — Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 30 July 2026
  • That adjustment aside, there’s nothing conceptually very original to this tale of a prodigal son returning to find his cranky old ma requiring rescue from both organized crime and a police raid.
    — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 26 July 2026
Definition of cranky
Adjective
  • The American right, too, is in a shifting, querulous state.
    — Amy Davidson Sorkin, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2026
  • In fact, the B-2 bombers were still in the air with hours to go before reaching home when Van Hollen issued his querulous statement.
    — Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 5 Mar. 2026
Definition of querulous
Adjective
  • Severe illness can affect the central nervous symptom and result in hospitalization or death.
    — Rashad Williams, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Given all that, is Green nervous about working within the system once more?
    — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of nervous

Browse Nearby Words

grouching
grouchy
ground
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Cite this Entry

“Grouchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grouchy. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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