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
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
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
See All Example Sentences for grumpy
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
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
See All Example Sentences for grumpy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grumpy
Adjective
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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
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Lack of sleep can lead to a range of problems, including feeling more irritable.—
Michelle Mastro,
The Spruce,
7 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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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
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Gonzaga coach Mark Few, no doubt displeased that Santa Clara made seven of its first nine shots in the half, called for a timeout.—
Jeff Faraudo,
Mercury News,
15 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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Almonds, chestnuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, chia, and flax are rich in magnesium and omega-3s, helping to support nervous-system and hormonal balance.—
Mélanie Defouilloy,
Vogue,
24 Feb. 2026
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And to be perfectly fair, nervous gratuitous laughter at stupid jokes is not unknown among anyone, including the press corps.—
John Shipley,
Twin Cities,
24 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Funny, pragmatic, sometimes cranky, always a little eccentric.—
Joseph Serna,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
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Funny, pragmatic, sometimes cranky, always a little eccentric.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grumpy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grumpy. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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