1
as in complained
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
he grumbled about how sore his feet were after standing all day
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Recent Examples of grumbled
Trump has grumbled about the pace of implementation of a similar deal with South Korea, a key competitor with Japan on auto manufacturing, and threatened to increase tariffs once again.
—
Dallas Morning News, 18 Feb. 2026
As a result, many in the baseball world have grumbled and groaned about the massive spending Los Angeles is doing on the open market.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 16 Feb. 2026
The 59-year-old grumbled that gladhanding throngs of supporters in dusty villages had left him prey to bugs and viruses.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 9 Feb. 2026
Legislators often grumbled about being squeezed by Newsom, but felt compelled — not always but most of the time — to go along.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2026
Legislators often grumbled about being squeezed by Newsom, but felt compelled — not always but most of the time — to go along.
—Dan Walters, Oc Register, 27 Jan. 2026
Last month, Harmeet Dhillon, the assistant attorney general for civil rights, grumbled on X that her follower count was not growing.
—Stephen Fowler, NPR, 16 Jan. 2026
Worshippers show up a half hour early to claim seats, and some longtime congregants have grumbled about the intern influx.
—Tara Palmeri, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
Trump in remarks before a House Republican retreat in Washington grumbled that Democrats were not giving him credit for a successful military operation, even though there was bipartisan agreement that Maduro was not the rightful president of Venezuela.
—Regina Garcia Cano, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
Dallas Morning News, 18 Feb. 2026
As a result, many in the baseball world have grumbled and groaned about the massive spending Los Angeles is doing on the open market.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 16 Feb. 2026
The 59-year-old grumbled that gladhanding throngs of supporters in dusty villages had left him prey to bugs and viruses.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 9 Feb. 2026
Legislators often grumbled about being squeezed by Newsom, but felt compelled — not always but most of the time — to go along.
—Dan Walters, Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2026
Legislators often grumbled about being squeezed by Newsom, but felt compelled — not always but most of the time — to go along.
—Dan Walters, Oc Register, 27 Jan. 2026
Last month, Harmeet Dhillon, the assistant attorney general for civil rights, grumbled on X that her follower count was not growing.
—Stephen Fowler, NPR, 16 Jan. 2026
Worshippers show up a half hour early to claim seats, and some longtime congregants have grumbled about the intern influx.
—Tara Palmeri, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
Trump in remarks before a House Republican retreat in Washington grumbled that Democrats were not giving him credit for a successful military operation, even though there was bipartisan agreement that Maduro was not the rightful president of Venezuela.
—Regina Garcia Cano, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grumbled
Verb
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Nonprofit providers have also repeatably complained about late payments.—
Andrew Khouri,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
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Throughout the discussion, no representative from any grocery store complained about the proposal or even met with city officials, despite their efforts, and a handful of people from the public spoke in support of a ban on plastic bags.—
Jesse Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The jaguar growled, whirled and bit off the protruding head of the arrow.—
Delbert L. Chears,
Outdoor Life,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Come on, the gunman growled, turning and walking and beckoning with the pistol for Adi to follow.—
Jonathan Miles,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Plenty of kids screamed and threw up heart signs in the crowd as Ejae, Nuna, and Ami hit the chorus’ high note.—
Walden Green,
Pitchfork,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Coach Travis Steele screamed at the officials at halftime, knocking over a speaker on his way off the court and picking up a technical foul.—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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When a catastrophic avalanche rumbled over a stretch of the High Sierra, dozens of law enforcement officers scoured the mountainside for a group of 15 skiers, including four mountain guides.—
Tony Briscoe,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
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Teens dished out nachos and sugary elephant ears to hungry fairgoers in a brand-new kitchen, even as the 65-year-old milkshake machine still rumbled against a far wall.—
Sophie Hartley,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The children jumped for joy after winning a game of cornhole; others fell and whined in defeat, but got up to play again.—
Christopher Buchanan,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Chip whined and nuzzled at my hand.—
Joel M. Vance,
Outdoor Life,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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As for one consistent complaint heard muttered amid bleary-eyed guests of the former Standard, Schrager confirms the appropriate adjustments have been made.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Nov. 2025
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But the other 3%, often muttered by students prospectively examining transfer applications, is distinct.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Critics moaned when the CFP committee picked the Hurricanes over Notre Dame as the last Power 4 entry into the playoffs.—
Chris Hays,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Jan. 2026
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Strapped to a stretcher in the back of an ambulance, the shooting victim moaned, then screamed.—
Lauren Caruba,
Dallas Morning News,
2 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grumbled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grumbled. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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