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
-
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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And watching the videos of the people jumping out of their chairs, screaming, cheering was so cool.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
2 June 2026
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An exasperated Tomás enters the thicket himself to retrieve, among other items, Liam’s boot, and doesn’t emerge until the next day—not screaming, but fundamentally changed.—
Nora Biette-Timmons,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Verb
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At the rim, Yasur is rumbling at Level 2, the second-lowest level on the five-point activity scale.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2026
-
The spooky, rumbling electronic score by Siriusmo (German EDM producer Moritz Friedrich) really bolsters the atmosphere of whimsy, weirdness and a tender sort of melancholy, a combination that’s uniquely Dupieux-ian and all the director’s own.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
17 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
-
Among the dead were 13 children and 14 non-protesting civilians, HRANA said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
And how about the Liberty players and coaches whining about it?—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
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In other words, the league no longer wants to be in the business of fining people for playing Cody Williams and John Konchar in the fourth quarter, or listening to other GMs whining about it.—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Verb
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The big question is whether people who pay hundreds of thousands of euros for growling gas-guzzlers will also shell out for electric versions.—
Neil Winton,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
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Or any of the Republican gym bros peddling supplements online and growling lifestyle advice into webcams.—
Rachel Marsden,
Hartford Courant,
16 May 2026
Verb
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The stuff with a load of people wearing wigs moaning about taxes just isn’t seen as very glamorous.—
Sean Woods,
Rolling Stone,
25 May 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Grumbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grumbling. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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