1
as in irritable
easily irritated or annoyed
a lack of sleep would make anyone grouchy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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
-
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
-
Also known as irritable hip, the condition is due to inflammation of the hip joint lining.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
This is especially true when your mattress is trapping and holding onto the heat preventing the cooling process that leads to better sleep, and less restless nights.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
11 Nov. 2025
-
But the stadium is restless now.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
Leah stayed crabby through dinner.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
1 Oct. 2025
-
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
-
When Bey is displeased, however, the Spaniard is lucky to survive another day.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
31 Oct. 2025
-
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
Adjective
-
When talking about his cake, Noel asks Aaron what the hero flavor will be because Paul gets cranky when there isn’t one.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Signs to treat fevers include being unusually sleepy, cranky and refusing food and drinks.—
Erika Edwards,
NBC news,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Trying to Kill Each Other' And Walken is marvelous — querulous, petty, cruel — as the Emperor.—
Tom Gliatto,
Peoplemag,
29 Feb. 2024
-
Instead, Gerwig and Baumbach promote querulous sloganeering.—
Armond White,
National Review,
19 July 2023
Adjective
-
In 2024, Mark looked nervous watching Grace compete in a horse show.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Senior dogs, puppies, or nervous rescues may require specialized care.—
Maria Williams,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grouchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grouchy. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share