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
Once the launchpad for Oscar juggernauts from Slumdog Millionaire to La La Land, TIFF has in recent years watched rivals Venice and Telluride siphon away its prestige premieres, while buyers grumbled about thinner slates and softer deal flow.
—
Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2025
His son hugged him, and Frazier grumbled with his team about what might have been.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
The novel, published to immediate controversy in India—an obscenity suit was filed over its portrayal of an intercaste romance—offended her Syrian Christian kin, who grumbled about misrepresentation.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2025
At those, Democrats restless about their party’s direction grumbled at Levin’s answers and urged more action from their leaders; one event was disrupted by protests over Israel’s killing of Palestinians in Gaza.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
The Arizona Republic last week reported that teammates and others in the organization have quietly grumbled about Marte’s habit of requesting off days.
—Doug Haller, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
Some loyalists grumbled for months about skimpy chicken portions.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2025
For decades, Yankees players, for the most part, grumbled but complied.
—Marc Edelman, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
The Bruins fell to non-basketball powers like Nebraska and Rutgers, as well as Maryland and Michigan, all while fifth-year coach Mick Cronin grumbled about Big Ten travel and the absurdity of spending nearly 10 days straight back east.
—Lindsay Schnell, The Athletic, 5 Feb. 2025
Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2025
His son hugged him, and Frazier grumbled with his team about what might have been.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
The novel, published to immediate controversy in India—an obscenity suit was filed over its portrayal of an intercaste romance—offended her Syrian Christian kin, who grumbled about misrepresentation.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2025
At those, Democrats restless about their party’s direction grumbled at Levin’s answers and urged more action from their leaders; one event was disrupted by protests over Israel’s killing of Palestinians in Gaza.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
The Arizona Republic last week reported that teammates and others in the organization have quietly grumbled about Marte’s habit of requesting off days.
—Doug Haller, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
Some loyalists grumbled for months about skimpy chicken portions.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2025
For decades, Yankees players, for the most part, grumbled but complied.
—Marc Edelman, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
The Bruins fell to non-basketball powers like Nebraska and Rutgers, as well as Maryland and Michigan, all while fifth-year coach Mick Cronin grumbled about Big Ten travel and the absurdity of spending nearly 10 days straight back east.
—Lindsay Schnell, The Athletic, 5 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grumbled
Verb
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Steele complained to Apple about the manager twice, but the conduct did not change, according to the lawsuit.—
Reuters,
CNN Money,
1 Oct. 2025
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Small artists also complained about a 2024 change where Spotify stopped paying artists with fewer than 1,000 streams.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Zanni screamed as if sounding an alarm.—
Domenico Starnone,
The Atlantic,
28 Sep. 2025
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Mayra said her daughter, who was outside the facility at the time in case she got detained, screamed and ran for cover.—
Luke Barr,
ABC News,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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That was the case even before Lawrence batted a Herbert pass at the line, reeled in his first career interception and rumbled 37-yards to the Chargers’ 3-yard line to set up a field goal.—
Dan Duggan,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
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The Cavaliers still rumbled for 211 yards on 48 carries.—
David Teel,
Miami Herald,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
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Although full disclosure, those two words were muttered in the press box Sunday after Nix had thrown two unsightly picks through the first three quarters of the Broncos’ win over Tennessee.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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From the other room, the victim moaned.—
Stephanie Kuzydym,
The Courier-Journal,
15 Aug. 2025
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Yankees fans have moaned and groaned about Aaron Boone’s deployment of Williams in crucial situations this season, and it’s only exacerbated now that every game counts in the postseason race.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
9 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grumbled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grumbled. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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