as in complainer
an irritable and complaining person
a real grump in the morning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to complain
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
those incessantly grumping patients were generally ignored by the nursing home staff
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to pout
to silently go about in a bad mood
he's been grumping about the house all morning because the golf tournament got rained out
Synonyms & Similar 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 grump
David Sims, The Atlantic, 23 July 2025
But beyond that, there’s a sense among sports fans in general — and hockey grumps in particular — that South Florida doesn’t deserve its success.
—Adam H. Beasley, Miami Herald, 18 June 2025
Sarah Todd, Quartz, 13 July 2021
However, George did join William and Kate on their tour of Australia in 2014 and was the grumpiest grump that ever grumped.
—Katherine J. Igoe, Marie Claire, 24 June 2019
See All Example Sentences for grump
Noun
Cross serves the town of Eddington as a useless figure of authority—a shiftless, asthmatic grump who mumbles complaints at lawbreakers and halfheartedly manages a staff of cops at his office.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 23 July 2025
But beyond that, there’s a sense among sports fans in general — and hockey grumps in particular — that South Florida doesn’t deserve its success.
—Adam H. Beasley, Miami Herald, 18 June 2025
Verb
For someone who felt exhausted by putting on a faux-happy face at work every day, the return might be a chance to establish boundaries and a reputation for being an authentic (but still likable) grump.
—Sarah Todd, Quartz, 13 July 2021
However, George did join William and Kate on their tour of Australia in 2014 and was the grumpiest grump that ever grumped.
—Katherine J. Igoe, Marie Claire, 24 June 2019
See All Example Sentences for grump
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grump
Noun
-
The pervasive popularity of the show and its creator will be the reason the complainers have no voice.—
Rich Heldenfels,
Boston Herald,
22 Mar. 2026
-
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
-
For years, critics of San Diego’s and California’s approaches have complained that millions and billions, respectively, have been spent to reduce homelessness, yet things just kept getting worse.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Apr. 2026
-
According to state records, the Board of Pharmacy had referred the matter to the Board of Medicine after a patient of Hartsuch’s complained that his pharmacist refused to fill the physician’s prescription for ivermectin in the treatment of COVID-19.—
Clark Kauffman,
Iowa Capital Dispatch,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Some people will probably be pouting in those debriefs.—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Barnes could have pouted at the demotion.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Antonio Express-News,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The plant provides habitat for fish, crabs and plankton, feeds migratory birds and locks away carbon and methane — both heat-trapping greenhouse gases — in coastal sediments.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Their diet includes fish, squid, crabs, krill and other sea life.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Her screaming grounder to short caromed into left field and sent home Albon, who had singled and stole second.—
Tony Baranek,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Sandra Bullock asked a screaming crowd at CinemaCon on Tuesday, staring at Nicole Kidman.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Often vital when visiting Disneyland, smartphones are largely permitted, but even they are frowned upon on many attractions.—
Carly Caramanna,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Meanwhile, loud prints and bright colors are frowned upon — something tournament organizers addressed with Jason Day in 2024.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The bears will go back to citing narrow leadership as a reason to distrust the bullish trend.—
Todd Gordon,
CNBC,
14 Apr. 2026
-
There are 10 others — a bear, dragon, fox, knight, lion, marauder, mustang, red panda, watchman and wolf — that will be narrowed to a final three via a public voting process that ends Friday.—
Mike Danahey,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Zendaya's Rue thrives in her own weird little story, but Cassie (Sydney Sweeney) lacks a personality other than whining, Nate (Elordi) lacks a personality other than anger, and hyper-sexualized Maddie (Alexa Demie) lacks a personality other than blind ambition.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Get someone who spends more time trying to master the new model than whining about it.—
Stewart Mandel,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grump.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grump. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
