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
Emmy winner Ray Romano joins as Norm Stinson, a grumpy but skilled veteran coach who knows how to push his players — just not always in the smoothest way.
—
Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Feb. 2026
The home crowd, grumpy and disillusioned a few weeks earlier, are now cheering the team off the pitch.
—Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for grumpy
Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Feb. 2026
The home crowd, grumpy and disillusioned a few weeks earlier, are now cheering the team off the pitch.
—Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for grumpy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grumpy
Adjective
-
Perhaps through feeling more irritable, more anxious, or wanting to isolate.—
Joy Harden Bradford,
AJC.com,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Had my symptoms maybe been put down to irritable bowel, for example, that could’ve been ongoing and ongoing and ongoing for a much longer period of time.—
Gina Kalsi,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In the enactive approach, this restless renegotiation gives rise to our higher cognitive functions.—
Amanda Gefter,
Quanta Magazine,
10 Apr. 2026
-
For allergy sufferers, that buildup can mean sneezing, nasal congestion and restless nights.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
That Utah rideshare driver, however, was justifiable more grouchy.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
-
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
-
Rui Hachimura, who led the Lakers with 15 points on 7-for-10 shooting, was pulled for Thiero just 2½ minutes into the game after Redick was visibly displeased with his veteran forward’s defensive performance, pointing and shouting at Hachimura after calling a timeout.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
8 Apr. 2026
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Todd Kesterson of Kaufman Rossin said his remorseful clients aren't necessarily strapped for cash, but are frequently displeased when their children's fortunes exceed theirs.—
Hayley Cuccinello,
CNBC,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In fact, the B-2 bombers were still in the air with hours to go before reaching home when Van Hollen issued his querulous statement.—
Chris Roemer,
Baltimore Sun,
5 Mar. 2026
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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
Adjective
-
The show followed the destitute Cuylers — father Early, his illegitimate son Rusty, his meth-loving sister Lily, and his crabby grandmother Granny — and their various moneymaking high jinks.—
Eric Vilas-Boas,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2026
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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
Adjective
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Behind yet another standout performance from Elliot Cadeau, who was named the Final Four’s most outstanding player, the Wolverines weathered a UConn run in the first half that had the massive throng of maize-and-blue fans in Indianapolis feeling nervous.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
7 Apr. 2026
-
King had been nervous about the casting process.—
Angelina Mazza,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
People get cranky with the change.—
Ticked Off,
The Orlando Sentinel,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Lauren Michele Jackson, cultural critic, New Yorker staffer, and the author of White Negroes, finally weighed in with the One Battle After Another review this cranky sue has been waiting for.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grumpy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grumpy. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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