1
as in complained
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
he grumbled about how sore his feet were after standing all day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 grumbled
Back then, purists grumbled that the modern reinterpretation of the British classic departed from the rough and tumble identity of Defenders past.
—
John Scott Lewinski, Robb Report, 8 Apr. 2026
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
John Scott Lewinski, Robb Report, 8 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grumbled
Verb
-
Staff and managers complained about the lack of specifics, as did legal-services providers and advocacy groups.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
-
Fans and politicians have complained in every language.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
The wereboar growled next to Black Pudding, a hulking vicious monster, both focused on ripping Puck and Cordelia to shreds.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The jaguar growled, whirled and bit off the protruding head of the arrow.—
Delbert L. Chears,
Outdoor Life,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Mostly left off the list were Washington’s supporters — who loudly screamed and chanted in the gallery.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
2 May 2026
-
Everything about his presence screamed that rebuilding this bridge at record speed carried intense political weight for him.—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The anti-vaccine rhetoric, and the efforts to revise laws and regulations, rumbled along at the state health department, and in the legislature.—
Kerry Sheridan,
NPR,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Minutes later, some attendees reported hearing what sounded like gunshots and the room rumbled as everyone rushed to hide under tables.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Remember that one time John Boyega, who played Finn, whined about how Disney didn't do his black character justice?—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
6 May 2026
-
He was outplayed by kids who had maybe 1/15th of his raw talent and whined to officials.—
Lindsay Schnell,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 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
-
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 8 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
