as in complaining
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1
as in screaming
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 grumbling
Mike Lillis, The Hill, 4 May 2026
But many questions went unanswered, frustrating many murmuring and grumbling attendees.
—Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
There has been some grumbling about the health plan changes on writers’ private Facebook groups.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 15 Apr. 2026
There was some grumbling at the outset—mostly about cutting down trees—but everybody soon went all in on this one.
—Joshua Levine, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grumbling
Verb
In the meantime, however, there is also grumbling that their party isn’t doing enough to address rising costs.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 4 May 2026
But many questions went unanswered, frustrating many murmuring and grumbling attendees.
—Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
There has been some grumbling about the health plan changes on writers’ private Facebook groups.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 15 Apr. 2026
There was some grumbling at the outset—mostly about cutting down trees—but everybody soon went all in on this one.
—Joshua Levine, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grumbling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grumbling
Adjective
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An energy vampire has bad body language, the complaining look on their face, the vocal complainer.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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On the night that everything changed, one of them would end the night screaming, and the other, in my opinion, didn't scream enough.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
11 May 2026
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Dramatic doorbell camera video shows the moment the man ran out of her home, and Cooper can be heard screaming in the background.—
Tara Lynch,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
Verb
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The classroom was noisy as well as overheated, with the rumbling boiler, directly beneath them, kicking in.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 May 2026
-
The Fever’s home faithful will welcome Clark’s return from injury with a rumbling adoration.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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The death toll includes at least 19 children, 21 non-protesting civilians, and 165 in government or security forces.—
The Hill,
The Hill,
17 Jan. 2026
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Among the dead were 13 children and 14 non-protesting civilians, HRANA said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Last week, the whining noise of unmanned flying objects could be heard in the city of Moscow once again.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
11 May 2026
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Luke's demise and Boyega's whining about the Black stormtrooper weren't the only reasons Disney's three movies failed.—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Lane’s Willy is both a paternal tyrant and a wounded bear, growling if anyone interrupts him yet unable to conceal his soft underbelly.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
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Suddenly all of those wolves appeared to pile on one wolf, and the growling and yipping carried for miles in the still, cold air.—
Frank Glaser,
Outdoor Life,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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There are kerfuffles down at the hardware store, and a moaning moose makes his presence known near the motel where Ulysses is staying.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
17 Apr. 2026
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But a male voice could be heard moaning in the background.—
Tim Stelloh,
NBC news,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grumbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grumbling. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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