as in whine
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to complain
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of grumble
David Alff, The Conversation, 12 Aug. 2025
Some loyalists grumbled for months about skimpy chicken portions.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2025
One grumbles when the driver rants about development’s ravages.
—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 10 Aug. 2025
There has been some grumbling about use of the new data, but Nielsen executives believe the new Big Data elements have been accurately reflecting viewing patterns.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grumble
Verb
Over the din of crackling wires and grumbling engines, the president made his case for revitalizing the country’s roads, ports, airports and rail lines.
—David Alff, The Conversation, 12 Aug. 2025
Some loyalists grumbled for months about skimpy chicken portions.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2025
One grumbles when the driver rants about development’s ravages.
—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 10 Aug. 2025
There has been some grumbling about use of the new data, but Nielsen executives believe the new Big Data elements have been accurately reflecting viewing patterns.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 5 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grumble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grumble
Noun
-
The unfiltered electric soundtrack of the Evija goes from a piercing whine to an ear-splitting shriek.—
Tim Pitt,
Robb Report,
6 Aug. 2025
-
Moscow’s escalating air war and the distinctive whine of Shaheds is now forcing Ukrainians out of their beds and into shelters and metro stations on an almost-nightly basis.—
Clare Sebastian,
CNN Money,
25 July 2025
Verb
-
On a StudBudz stream, Courtney Williams complained about having to share space at the team’s practice area, particularly when players and other attendees of the recreation center need to shower.—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Roman complains about pain in his feet, and Dennis offers him a foot massage.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The scene’s amniotic shoppe Muzak is suddenly overridden by a deep, growling synth.—
Lauren Michele Jackson,
New Yorker,
23 Aug. 2025
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Go grab your passport, a wad of bail money, and enough thirst for wine that growls at history and food that tastes like the ocean punched you in the mouth.—
John Noakes,
Hartford Courant,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Most of these are held in a tent, from which loud, ecstatic moans can be heard for seemingly miles around.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
26 Aug. 2025
-
Out comes another moan, this one closer to a laugh as Brandon’s face flashes a smile.—
Scott Craven,
AZCentral.com,
10 July 2025
Verb
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Deputies arrived to the sound of screaming and found the 16-year-old Elijah Quintero on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
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Curtis Pleasant remembers wading through the water, chest deep, screaming and searching.—
Suzette Hackney,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Tanks rumbled through Tiananmen Square, a location that offered a stark reminder of how authoritarian states can violently crush democratic movements.—
Elizabeth Shackelford,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
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The early-morning thunderstorms that rumbled across the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys Tuesday also produced nearly 10,000 dry lightning strikes, sparking wildfires from the Mother Lode to the grasslands of eastern Sacramento County.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Following multiple safety complaints, West Chester Township closed its new splash park for the remainder of the 2025 season in early August.—
Gillian Stawiszynski,
The Enquirer,
31 Aug. 2025
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There are few actors whose disembodied voices could carry long stretches of cinema, but Dafoe manages it, turning monologues about marionette mechanics or muttered complaints about hotel politics into something weirdly magnetic.—
Leila Latif,
IndieWire,
31 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grumble. Accessed 7 Sep. 2025.
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