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

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

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
On occasion, those strikes were accompanied by her trademark grunt and celebratory roar, which have echoed around tennis venues since her debut almost 30 years ago. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 30 June 2026 From a grunt to a poem, Robin just has such a sweetness to it. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 22 June 2026
Verb
Roaring and grunting, his body sleek with blood and sweat, Conan tussles and grapples with a series of opponents, dominating them all, while an audience of torch-wielding vulgarians shouts and howls at the pit’s lip. — Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 15 June 2026 Hippos grunt and grumble in the shallows, crocodiles sunbathe on sandbanks, elephants appear along the banks, while fish eagles call overhead as sunset approaches. — Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 23 May 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
  • Unfortunately, during the early to mid-twentieth century, negative perceptions of immigrant and ethnic laborers led many outsiders to view their neighborhoods as unsafe, unclean, and detrimental to the social fabric of American cities.
    — Michelle Oliva-Espinosa, Kansas City Star, 18 July 2026
  • The El Niño effects, in combination with the high fertilizer costs, will likely reduce opportunities for agricultural work while also increasing the amount that food laborers – among the poorest people – have to spend on produce.
    — Peter Hailey, The Conversation, 16 July 2026
Definition of laborer
Verb
  • This was 1872, and the pious (and patronizing) commentators of the time muttered that Damien’s unvarnished personality was due to his simple farm upbringing in rural Belgium.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 July 2026
  • Wilde read on social media that the tune actually inspired a movie theater meet-cute, as Nash mutters profanity mid-song.
    — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 11 July 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
  • The building appears to be still in the framing stage with workers making adjustments to the concrete pylons as cars zip past.
    — Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 July 2026
  • From a human trafficking sweep, to a mistrial in the K Street mass shooting case, to a look at a state worker Reddit community, here’s a rundown of the top Sacramento stories on July 21.
    — Ruyuan Li. Summary produced by AI assistance, Sacbee.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of worker
Verb
  • 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
  • Next up, maybe lawmakers can do something about overly soft, mumbling dialogue preceded by deafening explosions.
    — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 25 June 2026
Definition of mumble
Noun
  • More artwork with the Delizia al Limona, sponge cake soaked in limoncello with lemon cream and a whisper-thin, bright yellow lemon fondant.
    — Connie Ogle July 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
  • Absolutely’s groundedness can, in part, be credited to the journey of creating her second studio album, Paracosm, a dark-leaning, 13-track record that features self-examining lyrics and dynamic vocals, ranging from airy whispers to soaring belts.
    — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 30 July 2026
Definition of whisper
Verb
  • Or at least squeezed in a solid couch nap with baseball/golf/soccer/primo history programming murmuring in the background.
    — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 22 June 2026
  • Yoon murmurs something into her ear.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 June 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 5 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on grunt

Nglish: Translation of grunt for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about grunt

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