as in whines
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment
a chorus of moans and grumbles when they found out that the overnight camping trip had been cancelled
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in complains
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
he grumbled about how sore his feet were after standing all day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grumbles
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Stan Son, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Notice who stands to applaud your wins and who grumbles.
—Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 3 Mar. 2026
And perhaps some—Ho Jin just barks at him to take it all and grumbles that Ji Seon is a bad influence.
—Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
And Paleo Dad grumbles but goes and picks up his spear.
—Inga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2025
One grumbles when the driver rants about development’s ravages.
—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 10 Aug. 2025
Noun
But officiating grumbles aside, Hamburg were the story, giving a magnificent performance in spite of the imbalance between the two teams.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Verb
My gut, which is enormously large, grumbles that coach Ime Udoka may want to continue trotting out length and size when everyone’s healthy, which would relegate Sheppard back to a reserve role.
—Stan Son, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Notice who stands to applaud your wins and who grumbles.
—Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 3 Mar. 2026
And perhaps some—Ho Jin just barks at him to take it all and grumbles that Ji Seon is a bad influence.
—Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
And Paleo Dad grumbles but goes and picks up his spear.
—Inga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2025
One grumbles when the driver rants about development’s ravages.
—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 10 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grumbles
Verb
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At the same time, the Brighton captain, Pascal Gross, complains to referee Chris Kavanagh.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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And a woman who complains is said to be defying nature itself.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The first one arrives after 10 this evening and will bring rain, and some storm rumbles to our area.—
Ron Smiley,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2026
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The whole mountain rumbles when an avalanche rolls off it.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Over the next few years, relief rates rose as the companies provided more individualized responses to complaints filed through the agency.—
Joel Jacobs,
CNN Money,
11 Mar. 2026
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Chicago taxpayers had to front a $100,000 settlement with the two ex-staffers who filed wrongful termination complaints.—
Alice Yin,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In Whale’s picture, the bride doesn’t talk — only screams or hisses like an irritated cat — and is brought to life 5 minutes before the credits roll.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The picture with a bald eagle might be photoshopped, but the image screams America, right?—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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China holds Tibet without noticeable bother, commits crimes against its Uyghur Muslim minority with impunity, launches acts of aggression against its neighbors in the South China Sea, and growls off any court or tribunal that looks askance—which few do.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
2 Mar. 2026
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And as the person behind the camera approaches the pit bull, the dog growls and barks while standing in a fearful crouch.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
15 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The moans announced the doubt throughout Riviera’s 18th green amphitheater, a bowl full of thousands of fans unsure if the new guy could do it.—
Brody Miller,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
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At the moment that B’Tselem says Hathaleen collapsed, the visuals are jostled but moans of pain can be heard.—
Sam Metz,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Yet a right to petition means little if grievances are acknowledged but not meaningfully addressed.—
Brielle Miller,
Baltimore Sun,
9 Mar. 2026
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In Send Help, now in theaters, Linda (Rachel McAdams) and her overbearing boss Bradley (Dylan O’Brien) survive a plane crash and become stranded on a deserted island, where their past office grievances become a violent fight for survival.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Leading a group of seasoned musicians that includes guitarist Adam Brisbin and harp player Mary Lattimore, and working once again with Krivchenia as his producer, Meek continues to revel in the role of traditional troubadour of mid-tempo laments with heavy gestures to Buffalo Springfield.—
Dean Van Nguyen,
Pitchfork,
27 Feb. 2026
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Her self-reflections have always landed better than love laments though, and there’s plenty of these on the new one.—
Lina Lecaro,
Rolling Stone,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grumbles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grumbles. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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