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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of grumpy
All the fresh ingredients, inventive recipes, meticulous plating and glorious design means nothing if my food is served by a grumpy waiter or if my water glass is dirty.
—
Lynne Sullivan, The Providence Journal, 15 Feb. 2026
And who doesn’t relish the gothic details of an ancient manor and grumpy yet uniquely attractive duke that owns it?
—Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026
Then there was the grumpy forty-something.
—John Winsor, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Diesen wrote 2008’s The Pout-Pout Fish, as well as a string of other books featuring the grumpy fish.
—Travis Pinson, Dallas Morning News, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grumpy
Lynne Sullivan, The Providence Journal, 15 Feb. 2026
And who doesn’t relish the gothic details of an ancient manor and grumpy yet uniquely attractive duke that owns it?
—Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026
Then there was the grumpy forty-something.
—John Winsor, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Diesen wrote 2008’s The Pout-Pout Fish, as well as a string of other books featuring the grumpy fish.
—Travis Pinson, Dallas Morning News, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grumpy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grumpy
Adjective
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Rather than get irritable online, Medeiros did something positive about it.—
Dan Medeiros,
The Herald News,
27 Feb. 2026
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Manic episodes are described as prolonged periods of mood instability, in which a person can experience extreme increases in energy or euphoria, or alternatively, feel depressed or unusually irritable.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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An unprecedented legacy Lovano, celebrated as a fearless explorer of sound, has carved out a career defined by restless creativity.—
Duante Beddingfield,
Freep.com,
25 Feb. 2026
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Stella’s restless energy in wanting to fix things spurs her to arrange an impromptu trip for them to Amsterdam.—
Robert Abele,
Los Angeles Times,
20 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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Regardless, writers seem quite displeased with the dust-up between their guild and its staff.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
1 Mar. 2026
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But he's done so at a political cost – with polls showing a growing number of Americans displeased or opposed.—
Michelle Stoddart,
ABC News,
24 Feb. 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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What’s the pitch to talent, and how many are genuinely nervous about getting stuff wrong?—
Lacey Rose,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Mar. 2026
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This has been an area of strength recently, but these stocks will definitely pull back if the market gets nervous about whatever’s about to happen in Iran.—
Josh Brown,Sean Russo,
CNBC,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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If Elvis was ever cranky, that’s been stripped out.—
Amy Nicholson,
Twin Cities,
28 Feb. 2026
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And what of Morrison’s famously cranky reputation?—
Brett Milano,
Boston Herald,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grumpy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grumpy. Accessed 8 Mar. 2026.
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