1
as in murmurs
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 laborers
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 mutters
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
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Recent Examples of grunts
Literary Hub, 12 Jan. 2026
Wrestlers are rewarded for greater effort, more force and louder grunts.
—Dan Pompei, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
At the ciénega, Pitt noted the rhythmic grunts of a Yuma Ridgway’s rail, a resident marsh bird the size of a chicken that makes a racket but rarely shows itself among the reeds.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 15 Dec. 2025
Their unpredictably left me exposed to noises like car horns, crying babies and gym bro grunts.
—Mike Winters, CNBC, 7 Dec. 2025
One wag at the end of the table says that computer science is no longer the ticket to riches, too much vibe coding and artificial intelligence, then another says that management consulting is over, the AI grunts will do the basic MBA work.
—Neil Senturia, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Nov. 2025
Rather, the company’s bottom line will be carried by this new army of robotic grunts.
—Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 14 Nov. 2025
Things take a turn for the whimsical when, with the help of some lightning — and later, Taffy’s tanning bed — Lisa finds a companion in an undead, Victorian-era Cole Sprouse, a hopeless romantic who communicates exclusively in grunts, and whose devotion to Lisa knows no bounds.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
The beat and the backing grunts are tense (and intense), but the electric piano is warm and tender.
—Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 31 Oct. 2025
Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
Two of the monkeys had applauded the event with hopping and grunts, but the other three had shot like arrows into the trees, chasing after the peculiar bird that had remained indifferent to their antics.
—Literary Hub, 12 Jan. 2026
Wrestlers are rewarded for greater effort, more force and louder grunts.
—Dan Pompei, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
At the ciénega, Pitt noted the rhythmic grunts of a Yuma Ridgway’s rail, a resident marsh bird the size of a chicken that makes a racket but rarely shows itself among the reeds.
—Brandon Loomis, AZCentral.com, 15 Dec. 2025
Their unpredictably left me exposed to noises like car horns, crying babies and gym bro grunts.
—Mike Winters, CNBC, 7 Dec. 2025
One wag at the end of the table says that computer science is no longer the ticket to riches, too much vibe coding and artificial intelligence, then another says that management consulting is over, the AI grunts will do the basic MBA work.
—Neil Senturia, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Nov. 2025
Rather, the company’s bottom line will be carried by this new army of robotic grunts.
—Jeremy Lott, The Washington Examiner, 14 Nov. 2025
Things take a turn for the whimsical when, with the help of some lightning — and later, Taffy’s tanning bed — Lisa finds a companion in an undead, Victorian-era Cole Sprouse, a hopeless romantic who communicates exclusively in grunts, and whose devotion to Lisa knows no bounds.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
The beat and the backing grunts are tense (and intense), but the electric piano is warm and tender.
—Andrew Unterberger, Billboard, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
But young Fraser barely grunts under the punishment, then puts his shirt back on and goes to see how Julia is doing.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 5 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grunts
Noun
-
That was reflected on the ice for much of his first season, too, when the murmurs were many.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Sometimes there were murmurs around the police station from older officers about what Binion got up to back in the day.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Around a thousand union laborers were laid off.—
Nick Paumgarten,
New Yorker,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Many employers otherwise perform only superficial efforts at verification of legal status of employees, confident that enforcement agencies will target laborers, not management.—
Federico Peña,
Denver Post,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Your dad mutters for head movement, for cage cutting, for not playing off the back and creating distance.—
Matthew Shen Goodman,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
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One storyline that will be at the forefront of the upcoming season centers on Wednesday's Aunt Ophelia, who's been spoken about in hushed whispers throughout season 2.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Have there been any whispers about Bugs’ involvement?—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Borth and her co-workers quickly identified 11 families at their school alone who were in need of groceries the first week in January.—
Nick Woltman,
Twin Cities,
22 Feb. 2026
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Fast food workers can attest to the fact strange things happen after dark at the drive-thru, and an example played out Friday night at the McDonald’s in Henderson, North Carolina.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
From the first moment, the vibe is off, as Brady looks earnestly at Rooney, the England legend mumbles and gives vague answers.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grunts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grunts. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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