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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in complaining
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grumbling
Kansas City Star, 5 Sep. 2025
Forget the summer of love; this has been the summer of our grumbling discontent.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 4 Sep. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for grumbling
Adjective
Some coaches at Chiefs practice had already been grumbling about the priorities of their third-round draft pick.
—Kansas City Star, 5 Sep. 2025
Forget the summer of love; this has been the summer of our grumbling discontent.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 4 Sep. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for grumbling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grumbling
Verb
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In April, 44-year-old Marie Ange Blaise, a Haitian, died while being held at GEO’s Pompano Beach facility after complaining of chest pains.—
Shirsho Dasgupta,
Miami Herald,
26 Sep. 2025
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My question is how to get the most out of this reunion without sitting around rehashing old issues/resentments and complaining about our parents, especially our mother.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Thousands stomped in the bleachers, creating rumbling waves of adoration.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
22 Sep. 2025
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Apple’s promotional video for the iPhone 17 Pro is super loud and rumbling the floor.—
Eric Zeman,
PC Magazine,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The podcasting duo immediately lost it and began screaming in delight.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
24 Sep. 2025
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And Coraline was crying and shaking her head, her mind screaming, JOY, JOY, JOY, and Else’s eyes were rolled back into her head, deep in her dark pink fantasy world of keys and locks.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Hawke returns too, grumbling and growling behind a rubber mask (and, eventually, some grisly prosthetics).—
Katie Rife,
IndieWire,
21 Sep. 2025
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Food insecurity doesn’t necessarily mean kids are going to bed with growling stomachs every night.—
Oona Hanson,
CNN Money,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The canine was filmed barking and whining incessantly while balancing himself on his owner's knees.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
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The cats kept them up each night with their incessant whining and scratching at their doors.—
Duaa Eldeib,
ProPublica,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The deputies ultimately roll him over before putting on handcuffs as Mull can be heard moaning in pain.—
Nathaniel Percy,
Oc Register,
26 Sep. 2025
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The recognizable munchies didn't stop the cast members from moaning, groaning and throwing up as usual.—
Breanne L. Heldman,
PEOPLE,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
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My husband has been muttering in a loop about tuition, books, food, and transportation to and from home to campus.—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
15 Sep. 2025
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He was also heard muttering expletives down the stretch, visibly battling the heat and pressure.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grumbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grumbling. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
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