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
Aura grumbled along with her classmates.
—
Ava Berger, NPR, 28 Mar. 2026
Robbins was replaced at center by Adam Treu, the Raiders lost 48-21 to a Bucs team led by former Raiders coach Jon Gruden and teammates openly grumbled about Robbins in the aftermath.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
Judy Garland grumbled into a tape recorder in the mid-nineteen-sixties.
—Matt Weinstock, New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2026
Veterans on the starting defense grumbled.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2026
Dallas stumbled, fumbled and grumbled its way to a 122-92 loss, which was somehow not its most lopsided game of the season.
—Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 9 Mar. 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, Oc Register, 27 Jan. 2026
Ava Berger, NPR, 28 Mar. 2026
Robbins was replaced at center by Adam Treu, the Raiders lost 48-21 to a Bucs team led by former Raiders coach Jon Gruden and teammates openly grumbled about Robbins in the aftermath.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
Judy Garland grumbled into a tape recorder in the mid-nineteen-sixties.
—Matt Weinstock, New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2026
Veterans on the starting defense grumbled.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2026
Dallas stumbled, fumbled and grumbled its way to a 122-92 loss, which was somehow not its most lopsided game of the season.
—Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 9 Mar. 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, Oc Register, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grumbled
Verb
-
Horner complained that the delivery truck didn’t have a working backup camera.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Apr. 2026
-
In emails shared with the Tribune, Clint Litle also complained to Tower management about disparaging comments allegedly made about his wife’s appearance, including about her makeup and hair extensions.—
Rebecca Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Lee screamed, running toward Knueppel and shaking a bottle of water over his head.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Moore screamed, Torres, 19, remembered.—
Emma Seiwell,
New York Daily News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Big Boy rumbled through Northern California in 2014, but with fewer stops than are planned this year.—
Brooke Park,
San Francisco Chronicle,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Panthers fans excitedly rumbled in his mentions.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Never whined, even as quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s play deteriorated last season.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
19 Mar. 2026
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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
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
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 10 Apr. 2026.
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