Synonyms of grumbling

grumbling 1 of 2

adjective

as in complaining

Related Words

• complaining
• protesting
• griping
• kvetching
• whining
• fussing
• squawking
• unforgiving
• uncompromising
• impatient
• unyielding
• intolerant

Dissimilar Words

• abiding
• patient
• enduring
• tolerant
• accepting
• willing
• forbearing
• forgiving
• uncomplaining
• resigned
• long-suffering
• indulgent

grumbling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of grumble

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

• complaining
• screaming
• whining
• moaning
• muttering
• growling
• murmuring
• worrying
• grousing
• whimpering
• griping
• bitching
• squealing
• squawking
• kicking
• nagging
• crying
• yammering
• wailing
• hollering
• carping
• bellyaching
• whinging
• kvetching
• inveighing
• bleating
• repining
• yowling
• grouching
• grumping
• keening
• beefing
• fussing
• grizzling
• caterwauling
• protesting
• crabbing
• yawping
• croaking
• maundering
• sobbing
• kicking up a fuss
• quibbling
• quarreling (with)
• objecting (to)
• fretting
• stewing
• lamenting
• blubbering
• bewailing
• bemoaning
• caviling
• deploring

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rejoicing
• delighting
• accepting
• taking
• enduring
• tolerating
• bearing
• crowing
• cheering
• applauding
• commending
• countenancing

2

as in rumbling

to make a low heavy rolling sound

heavily loaded trucks grumbling as they passed over the steel bridge

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rumbling
• growling
• rolling
• drumming
• thundering
• bellowing
• booming
• lumbering

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of grumbling

Verb

There was, unshockingly, grumbling around several of these expansions, too. — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 17 Aug. 2026

Aside from social media posts complaining about the war’s fallout and some grumbling from oligarchs about the Kremlin seizing their assets, there are still no signs of any widespread popular unrest against Vladimir Putin’s regime. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2026

To do so, the chain has invested in labor and renovations to its coffee houses, earning some grumbling from investors. — Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 29 July 2026

Drummer Jay Russell kept to stark rattles, Sam Shipstone patched in his scratchy electric guitar, and Ryan Needham needled through grumbling basslines. — Victoria Borlando, Pitchfork, 24 July 2026

But there is some grumbling after Burnham removed several of Starmer’s senior ministers from the government including ex-Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, former Business Secretary Peter Kyle and Starmer’s chief secretary, Darren Jones. — ABC News, 21 July 2026

There is much grumbling and disagreement at her meeting of the Small Council. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

That sparked grumbling this week from students on social media. — Todd Wallack, Washington Post, 10 July 2026

Certain organizations, like the Baltimore Orioles, are notorious for never having enough arms, which can lead to grumbling from teams that do, like the Tampa Bay Rays. — Brittany Ghiroli, New York Times, 1 July 2026