as in muttering
speech that is not clear enough to be understood
says he talks in his sleep, but really it's just snorts and grunting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in mumbling
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
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 grunting
Randall Colburn, EW.com, 8 Mar. 2025
The elephant is now decidedly less friendly, and is doing far more than twitching and grunting.
—Stephen Maher, TIME, 15 Feb. 2025
Yesterday Re complaints about her grunting--go make those complaints on the men's side of the arena, please, and stop policing women's behavior.
—Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 25 Jan. 2025
Chase and Danni go to the master to hook up, and we’re subjected to some late-night sounds of Chase grunting.
—Emma Soren, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2025
Paired alongside Shakespeare’s lines about grunting and sweating under a weary life, even the non-playable background extras seem imbued with a soul.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2025
The team recorded dozens of the native birds gathering around to perform their courtship—showing off their bright feathers, smooth moves and grunting calls.
—Alexa Robles-Gil, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Jan. 2025
Between Home Improvement and Last Man Standing, Allen has spent nearly two decades on network TV playing a blue-collar, no-nonsense dad who loves his kids despite all his grumbling (and grunting).
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 6 Jan. 2025
Even outside that timeframe, grunting at a deer that’s traveling away from your position, or not close enough for a shot, can work, too.
—Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 1 Jan. 2025
Verb
Tim Allen's grunting tool man led one of the '90s most popular sitcoms.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 8 Mar. 2025
The elephant is now decidedly less friendly, and is doing far more than twitching and grunting.
—Stephen Maher, TIME, 15 Feb. 2025
Yesterday Re complaints about her grunting--go make those complaints on the men's side of the arena, please, and stop policing women's behavior.
—Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 25 Jan. 2025
Chase and Danni go to the master to hook up, and we’re subjected to some late-night sounds of Chase grunting.
—Emma Soren, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2025
Paired alongside Shakespeare’s lines about grunting and sweating under a weary life, even the non-playable background extras seem imbued with a soul.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2025
The team recorded dozens of the native birds gathering around to perform their courtship—showing off their bright feathers, smooth moves and grunting calls.
—Alexa Robles-Gil, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Jan. 2025
Between Home Improvement and Last Man Standing, Allen has spent nearly two decades on network TV playing a blue-collar, no-nonsense dad who loves his kids despite all his grumbling (and grunting).
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 6 Jan. 2025
Even outside that timeframe, grunting at a deer that’s traveling away from your position, or not close enough for a shot, can work, too.
—Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 1 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grunting
Noun
-
Roki Sasaki would lift his left leg almost to his head, stretch far down the front side of the mound, and let out a grunt as a blur of white leather came screaming from his hand.—
Jack Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2025
-
Then, the researchers performed a statistical analysis of specific two-call combinations — such as a grunt followed by a bark — that were documented in multiple animals.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
11 May 2025
Noun
-
There have been a lot of whispers and rumours about where this prospective investment could come from but nothing concrete has emerged yet.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
16 May 2025
-
There are enough vague, intractable whispers of diplomacy and further talks about talks, to provide the tantalising promise of a deal, without striking, or even delineating one.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
16 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grunting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grunting. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share