1
as in irritable
easily irritated or annoyed
a grumpy neighbor whose yard we had long ago learned not to trespass
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in restless
given to complaining a lot
the baby's sure to be grumpy if she doesn't get her afternoon nap
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grumpy
The clip, which has amassed over 14 million views and nearly 3 million likes, shows the little girl, who was only 4 days old at the time, with a grumpy expression on her face as her brother leans in for the smooch.
—
Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026
Among the supporting cast, Lester is wonderfully grumpy and Harriet Walter, playing Bea’s wise babushka, great fun.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 14 Jan. 2026
The restaurant team wears its impressive training lightly, dipping into an encyclopedic knowledge of Sicilian wine and cheering up a grumpy toddler in the same breath.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
Not all of the jokes work, but even the grumpiest theatergoers will find plenty of laughs.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grumpy
Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026
Among the supporting cast, Lester is wonderfully grumpy and Harriet Walter, playing Bea’s wise babushka, great fun.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 14 Jan. 2026
The restaurant team wears its impressive training lightly, dipping into an encyclopedic knowledge of Sicilian wine and cheering up a grumpy toddler in the same breath.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
Not all of the jokes work, but even the grumpiest theatergoers will find plenty of laughs.
—Ross Raihala, Twin Cities, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grumpy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grumpy
Adjective
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On the contrary, Juventus’ football soothed even the most irritable sections of the crowd.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
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This can include feeling irritable, having a low frustration tolerance, feeling easily overstimulated, and having rapid shifts in emotion.—
Korin Miller,
SELF,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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While Moses was up on Mount Sinai receiving the tablets, the people of Israel grew restless and decided to melt down their jewelry and create a golden calf.—
Gal Beckerman,
The Atlantic,
8 Feb. 2026
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Benefits of Separate Sleep Spaces Experiencing restless sleep—or worse, not getting enough sleep—because one partner snores or has different sleep patterns can result in chronic sleep loss for the other partner and relationship tension for both.—
Michelle Mastro,
The Spruce,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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That Utah rideshare driver, however, was justifiable more grouchy.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
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Flockhart is equally supportive of Ford, having expressed her joy at watching her husband’s performance as the grouchy, oft-deadpan therapist.—
Skyler Trepel,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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As great as Antetokounmpo is, the harsh reality is that every player who gets tied to trade proposals as a result of his availability is likely displeased to be part of that discussion.—
Sam Amick,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
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At the end, Briar bumps into her and Ru looks displeased.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
17 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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This canonical part has been played by some of the foremost women of the British stage, among them Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, and Edith Evans, who, in Anthony Asquith’s 1952 film adaptation, put a delightfully querulous spin on Lady Bracknell’s most indelible lines.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
17 Nov. 2025
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Trying to Kill Each Other' And Walken is marvelous — querulous, petty, cruel — as the Emperor.—
Tom Gliatto,
Peoplemag,
29 Feb. 2024
Adjective
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Lucy Van Pelt Lucy is the crabby kid who always has something up her sleeve.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
6 Jan. 2026
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Leah stayed crabby through dinner.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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New York — A nervous mood swept through markets Tuesday as stocks stumbled and bitcoin hit its lowest level since November 2024.—
John Towfighi,
CNN Money,
3 Feb. 2026
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Glasser was still nervous (as if a last-minute, late-night trip to Staples wasn’t enough to wear on her nerves).—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Neurotic, helpful, and extremely germophobic, Sindri is the complete opposite of his cranky, foul-mouthed brother and business partner, Brok.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
30 Jan. 2026
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That filmed play also starred Sutorius as a cranky, aging man struggling to communicate with a young female secretary about Lucy’s age.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grumpy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grumpy. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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