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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in complaining
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of grumbling
Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
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
Presidents, of course, kept grumbling about unfavorable numbers, but their influence over them waned.
—Fergus McIntosh, New Yorker, 6 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 grumbling
Adjective
These are heady days for Palace, but there is grumbling — understandably — that even more still could be achieved if the manager was sufficiently backed.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
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
Presidents, of course, kept grumbling about unfavorable numbers, but their influence over them waned.
—Fergus McIntosh, New Yorker, 6 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 grumbling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grumbling
Verb
-
Nah — not very long later, Tony is referencing his Bond obsession, complaining about the generic name of the secret drone-control computer program everyone is battling for here.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
4 Sep. 2025
-
But everybody was complaining and asking for a hot one.—
Andy Wang,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
With the events, neighbors came to expect rumbling trucks delivering food, decorations and furniture.—
Colson Thayer,
People.com,
27 Aug. 2025
-
Only a few women sang, so the chorus had a deep, rumbling sound.—
Charles Bethea,
New Yorker,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
A couple climbed through a sunroof to rescue a 22-month-old screaming child left alone in a hot car, Massachusetts police said.—
Paloma Chavez,
Miami Herald,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Kristen raced to the school and found a cop waiting for her as well as firetrucks and an ambulance, where her son was inside screaming.—
Wendy Grossman Kantor,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The scene’s amniotic shoppe Muzak is suddenly overridden by a deep, growling synth.—
Lauren Michele Jackson,
New Yorker,
23 Aug. 2025
-
The growling bear took several aggressive steps toward Buoy but then dumped the chase.—
David K. Li,
NBC news,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
In lesser hands, such a question, especially from a young white male who plays guitar for a living, could come off as whining.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
5 Sep. 2025
-
And since then, his crying and whining have increased.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Ellis could be heard moaning and could be seen lying on the ground.—
Elena Santa Cruz,
AZCentral.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
The patient is actually a training dummy that instructors can manipulate into yelling, moaning, retching, suffering blood pressure spikes, heart attacks and other medical emergencies.—
Beth Warren,
The Tennessean,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
He was also heard muttering expletives down the stretch, visibly battling the heat and pressure.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Aug. 2025
-
That Longhorns fan muttering about Nietzsche was right after all.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
20 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grumbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grumbling. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share