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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grouchy
The energy of the performances — from Aduba’s deadpan forthrightness to the more antic work by comedians like Marino and Jane Curtin (as the president’s grouchy mother-in-law) — and the rat-a-tat style of all the conversations carries the day.
—
Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2025
The only people who can help Sara and Devin are Isaac (Taylor Kitsch), a grouchy mountain man, and Two Moons (Shawnee Pourier), a mute Shoshone girl fleeing her own violent past.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Jan. 2025
The Grinch will also host an ugly sweater party with green pancakes, green hot chocolate, and grouchy crafts.
—Paula Conway, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
There’s Loto, who designed and maintains the canoe; Kele, the grouchy elder chef who prepares vegetables; and Moni, a young storyteller and Maui fanboy.
—Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 27 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for grouchy
Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2025
The only people who can help Sara and Devin are Isaac (Taylor Kitsch), a grouchy mountain man, and Two Moons (Shawnee Pourier), a mute Shoshone girl fleeing her own violent past.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Jan. 2025
The Grinch will also host an ugly sweater party with green pancakes, green hot chocolate, and grouchy crafts.
—Paula Conway, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
There’s Loto, who designed and maintains the canoe; Kele, the grouchy elder chef who prepares vegetables; and Moni, a young storyteller and Maui fanboy.
—Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 27 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for grouchy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grouchy
Adjective
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Most cases clear up on their own without complications, but parents should contact a doctor if a child cannot keep fluids down, has a high fever lasting more than a few days or seems unusually drowsy or irritable.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
29 Oct. 2025
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Also known as irritable hip, the condition is due to inflammation of the hip joint lining.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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While some dog owners struggle with restless nights due to snoring or space-hogging canines, others, like the creator of this video, find joy and comfort in the company.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
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After several nights of restless sleep, the man’s patience finally ran out.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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And Carol is really taking to the task, grumpy throughout the two-minute trailer, while the world tries and fails to turn her frown upside down.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
22 Oct. 2025
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But, wishes aside, Patterson was cast as Danes, the grumpy but kindhearted diner owner at the heart of the show’s romance between his character and Lauren Graham’s Lorelai Gilmore.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Leah stayed crabby through dinner.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
1 Oct. 2025
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Attend the Fiddler Crab Festival Every February over Presidents’ Day weekend, the three-day Fiddler Crab Festival brings crabby fun and community pride to Steinhatchee.—
Skye Sherman,
Southern Living,
5 July 2025
Adjective
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Needless to say, Cowboys fans were displeased with the loss, and so was one of the team's Super Bowl winners.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
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Some who were displeased took to the internet.—
Althea Legaspi,
Rolling Stone,
26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Reeves is a cranky, deadpanning Estragon, wallowing in frustration as his gangly limbs swing, unwillingly turning to his friend but also welcoming the help, the hugs.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Sep. 2025
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But the election highlights a San Francisco in flux and a still cranky, even emboldened electorate as leaders prepare to make tough decisions about the city’s future.—
Janie Har,
Fortune,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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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
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Instead, Gerwig and Baumbach promote querulous sloganeering.—
Armond White,
National Review,
19 July 2023
Adjective
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The dogs' job on marathon day will be to calm race-day jitters at the starting line, where runners can feel overwhelmed or nervous about the trek ahead.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
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There was a lot of nervous smiling.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grouchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grouchy. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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