grunt 1 of 2

noun

Definition of gruntnext
1
as in grunting
speech that is not clear enough to be understood preoccupied with what he was doing, the mechanic gave only a grunt when I asked when the car would be ready

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2
as in laborer
a person who does very hard or dull work we have an opening in the warehouse if you don't mind doing grunt work

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

grunt

2 of 2

verb

ˈgrənt How to pronounce grunt (audio)
as in to mutter
to speak softly and unclearly was so absorbed with the video game that when asked what he wanted for dinner, he just grunted

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 grunt
Noun
There, Noronha wrasse—the archipelago’s namesake cleaner fish—dart among surgeonfish, sergeant majors, grunts, parrotfish, and groupers. — Sarah Bruning, Travel + Leisure, 13 Aug. 2026 They are often hired to do the grunt work on a specific case, with the understanding that there is no commitment to keep them on if business lags or the project ends. — Paul Osterman, The Conversation, 11 Aug. 2026
Verb
Readers have come to know that there’s a quiet philosophy under all of that grunting and talking with his hands. — Niela Orr, Vulture, 20 July 2026 The statue is dragged via ropes by grunting Trojans before being lurched upright against a sacred temple, once again jostling those inside. — David MacK, CNN Money, 18 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for grunt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grunt
  1. grunting
  2. laborer
  3. mutter
  4. muttering
  5. worker
  6. mumble
  7. whisper
  8. murmur
Noun
  • By pulling this string, the locals made an amplified grunting noise similar to that of a jaguar.
    — Delbert L. Chears, Outdoor Life, 5 Mar. 2026
Definition of grunting
Noun
  • Prakash Chand, a resident, said laborers were in the basement carrying out digging work when the building collapsed.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026
  • In theory, that reduces costs dramatically by eliminating the need for a large crew of carpenters and laborers working for a year or more.
    — Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of laborer
Verb
  • The tourists mutter in disbelief before the driver of the bus heads down the street to the next haunted stop.
    — Sonjirose Chin, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2026
  • When John finally reunites with Hal (who charges the ring against the lantern while quickly muttering his oath), the frustrated protégé immediately confronts his teacher with all the suspicions he was meant to keep secret.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of mutter
Noun
  • The opportunity to send a raucous Bell Centre crowd home muttering was there in Game 3.
    — Eduardo A. Encina, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026
Definition of muttering
Noun
  • Singapore pays its political leaders high salaries to attract talent and deter graft, but the issue is thorny in the city-state, where the median wage worker made S$5,775 ($736) a month in 2025.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 9 Sep. 2026
  • To give workers more, the DSA would basically end capitalism.
    — Nolan Finley The Detroit News, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of worker
Verb
  • The convex-concave curves of the open and closed parentheses cup something said by the way, whisperings, secrets mouthed into the reader’s ear, mumbled under the author’s breath.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Later that day, Rowley was drenched in sweat, rocking back and forth and mumbling incoherently as the poison – later identified as Novichok, a Russian nerve agent – took hold of him, too.
    — Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
Definition of mumble
Noun
  • Moore begins with a whisper and builds to a roar as Mona improvises a manic rant that involves rats and the plague.
    — Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Engineered around Qualcomm’s flagship 12-core Snapdragon X Elite processor, this Surface laptop delivers exceptional processing speed with whisper-quiet thermal efficiency.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of whisper
Verb
  • That pertness should be unbearable, but the scene is written in a minor key and performed by both actors to match, favouring eye contact and murmurs; the sheer brevity prevents it from becoming gloopy or crass.
    — Caspar Salmon, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Some people experience a faster heart rate and, in severe cases, can develop a heart murmur.
    — Teresa Maalouf, Verywell Health, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of murmur

Browse Nearby Words

grungy
grunt
grunted
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Cite this Entry

“Grunt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grunt. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on grunt

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about grunt

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