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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of grunt
Jeff Spry, Space.com, 10 Dec. 2025
Their unpredictably left me exposed to noises like car horns, crying babies and gym bro grunts.
—Mike Winters, CNBC, 7 Dec. 2025
Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Marcela grunted into her glass.
—Zuzana Říhová, Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grunt
Noun
Again, Larkin gave a non-committal grunt.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 10 Dec. 2025
Their unpredictably left me exposed to noises like car horns, crying babies and gym bro grunts.
—Mike Winters, CNBC, 7 Dec. 2025
Verb
There are up to 20,000 rabid people raining down their emotions from all angles, a dozen sticks clattering, two dozen skates carving, all those burly bodies bumping into each other and banging into the boards, plus an endless stream of screaming and grunting and cursing.
—Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Marcela grunted into her glass.
—Zuzana Říhová, Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grunt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grunt
Noun
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Mayor Bass also secured 17 positions for supply and maintenance staffing, including heavy-duty mechanics, mechanic helpers, tire repairers, maintenance laborers, toolroom workers, truck operators and more.—
Jeff Nguyen,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
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An illiterate laborer and cook, Lee joined the Shaking Quaker sect in 1758.—
Claire Messud,
Vogue,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The camera then turns to James Austin Johnson, who played the president, sleeping and muttering New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s name.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Dec. 2025
-
On the plane, Dick clutches the slingshot and begins sweating and muttering to himself before becoming unresponsive.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The same Georgia plant where Hyundai plans to test out Atlas was the site of a federal immigration raid last year that led to the arrests of hundreds of workers, including more than 300 South Korean citizens.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Karmen Black, a licensed social worker and Minneapolis resident, received the Heroic Act Award from the United States Lifesaving Association on Monday during a ceremony at Minneapolis Fire Station 5.—
Nick Lunemann,
CBS News,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The old Helena would have mumbled something under her breath, hectically pressed the call button a few more times, and fled the situation as quickly as possible.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
-
After whispering and mumbling my way through the ceremony, I was handed the scroll.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Every offseason, the whispers of PGA Tour stars defecting to LIV Golf swirl like clockwork.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
-
This could trigger everything from whispers and misunderstandings to grudges that resurface in the group chat.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
After Jib-jib moved in with the family, however, his heart murmur went away.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Two students have unrolled what looks like an incomplete treasure map, and lean over it with magnifying glasses, murmuring to one another.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The opposition’s mainstream leaders still mouth the catechism that change should come by Venezuelan hands, but more are openly courting external pressure to tilt the balance.—
Robert Muggah,
The Conversation,
31 Oct. 2025
-
True and Dream then appeared in the same way, with True expertly flipping her sunglasses onto her face in time to the music, before the trio joined Kardashian to mouth the lyrics.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grunt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grunt. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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