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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of grunt
Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
Seeing, hearing is believing With one final grunt, Walker Buehler hopped off the bullpen mound and headed toward Field 2 at the Peoria Sports Complex to throw his first live batting practice.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026
Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2026
Vile — lots of climbing, groping, grabbing, grunting and dirt.
—Linda Perillo, New York Daily News, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grunt
Noun
The whinny is an unusual combination of both high and low-pitched sounds — like a cross between a grunt and a squeal — that come out at the same time.
—Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
Seeing, hearing is believing With one final grunt, Walker Buehler hopped off the bullpen mound and headed toward Field 2 at the Peoria Sports Complex to throw his first live batting practice.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Feb. 2026
Verb
Planet Fitness once made a point of banning denim in the gym, along with grunting, dropping dumbbells, and judging others.
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 20 Feb. 2026
Vile — lots of climbing, groping, grabbing, grunting and dirt.
—Linda Perillo, New York Daily News, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for grunt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grunt
Noun
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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
Noun
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In 2024, only 18% of construction laborers and 8% of retail workers in California were represented by a union.—
Nicole Macias Garibay,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2026
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In their latest motion, Zeigler’s attorneys say that Marques’ and other judges over the years have overlooked Felton Thomas and Edward Williams — two Black laborers who testified against Zeigler at his 1976 trial — as culprits.—
Martin E. Comas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In fact, the director was egging me on, encouraging me to go further with the hunching and muttering.—
Andrew Martin,
Vogue,
9 Mar. 2026
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Old friend Daniel Vladar was spectacular in making 26 saves, several of which had Morgan Geekie (nine total shots, five on net, two blocked, two misses) muttering to himself.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
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This time, however, travelers are already facing long lines and delays due to the ongoing partial government shutdown, which has left thousands of TSA workers without pay.—
De'Anthony Taylor,
Baltimore Sun,
28 Mar. 2026
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Fatalities data, the group says, is based on a range of sources, including sources among medical workers, publicly available images and official statements.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile, everyone is still running around like the Keystone Kops chasing Billie, passing an old lady in a bed eating Jell-O who mumbles something in Diné.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Feb. 2026
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One of the reporters said Bad Bunny often mumbled through the expletives or cut off the word entirely in the show.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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His presentation showed these daytime levels to be roughly equivalent to a quiet rural area, while nighttime levels would be at the sound level of a whisper or rustling leaves.—
R. Christian Smith,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Mar. 2026
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Charm Car Fresheners offer a whisper of delightful fragrance and a dash of happy style.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The remark drew a mix of gasps, murmurs and laughs from others in the room.—
Emily Chang,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
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Meyers bent his head and murmured to Bria.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Both governments still mouth the old slogans, by rote.—
Quico Toro,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
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Or to sometimes instinctively mouth the words to Christmas carols the kids sang to him with tears or confusion in their eyes.—
Scott Maxwell,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grunt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grunt. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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