as in whine
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment
a chorus of moans and grumbles when they found out that the overnight camping trip had been cancelled
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to complain
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of grumble
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Its Amazon reviews are near universally positive, with the only grumble being that the voice change could be better.
—Chris McMullen, Space.com, 29 Nov. 2025
Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 26 Jan. 2026
My father was also sullen from the vodka, and after grumbling some would fall asleep on his grungy sleeper berth.
—Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grumble
Noun
But officiating grumbles aside, Hamburg were the story, giving a magnificent performance in spite of the imbalance between the two teams.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Its Amazon reviews are near universally positive, with the only grumble being that the voice change could be better.
—Chris McMullen, Space.com, 29 Nov. 2025
Verb
Some ponied up, even while grumbling online.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 26 Jan. 2026
My father was also sullen from the vodka, and after grumbling some would fall asleep on his grungy sleeper berth.
—Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grumble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grumble
Noun
-
No suspicious whine in the air, no burning of pungent oils to put off biters.—
Antonia Quirke,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
-
These are no longer the days of whine and turned-up noses.—
Joe Nguyen,
Denver Post,
30 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The building was in the neighborhood of Bab Tabbaneh, one of the poorest areas in Lebanon’s second-largest city, where residents have long complained of government neglect and shoddy infrastructure.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Other conservatives have also complained about Bad Bunny performing in Spanish.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Come on, the gunman growled, turning and walking and beckoning with the pistol for Adi to follow.—
Jonathan Miles,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Upon entering the foyer, I was greeted by a growling animatronic Chewbacca, playfully adorned with a Christmas hat for the holiday season.—
Robert Lang,
Deadline,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The song eventually escalates into a lecherous, breathless, glittering climax of incandescent synthesizers and melodic moans—an erotic asphyxiation depicted as utterly glorious.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Two microphones angle towards the duduk to capture resonant moans, creaks, squeaks and honks akin to the bridge’s.—
Ruby Rosenthal,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Beach’s daughter screamed to responding officers that her children were wounded inside.—
Meredith Colias-Pete,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Let’s talk about the Black Banquet and Yam Yam screaming your name.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The smell of methanol racing fuel and the buzz of anticipation filled Lucas Oil Stadium as a procession of monster trucks rumbled into position for Monster Jam’s two-show weekend on January 31 and February 1.—
Travis LaCoss,
IndyStar,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The mom of three hears the televisions vibrating through the walls, video games clacking on the XBox, and the constant swirl of doors as her kids rumble through the house.—
Jessica Ma,
Dallas Morning News,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The complaint argues that federal officers’ use of chemical munitions and excessive force represents retaliation against protesters, which violates their First Amendment rights.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
4 Feb. 2026
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The complaint, from May 2025, first made headlines when the Wall Street Journal reported Monday on the lengthy process taken to prepare the highly sensitive document for lawmaker viewing.—
Molly Parks,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grumble. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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