Synonyms of sour grapes

sour grapes

plural noun

as in hostility

informal unfair criticism that comes from someone who is disappointed about not getting something

His remarks are nothing but sour grapes.

Related Words

• hostility
• jealousy
• virulency
• rudeness
• acidity
• malice
• bitterness
• resentment
• gruffness
• acidness
• pique
• venom
• virulence
• mordancy
• bile
• corrosiveness
• harshness
• severity
• anger
• nastiness
• vitriol
• sternness
• acrimony
• tartness
• sourness
• spite
• discourteousness
• acridity
• coldness
• vehemence
• relentlessness
• asperity
• cattiness
• impoliteness
• acridness
• animosity
• crossness
• incivility
• scorn
• iciness
• jaundice
• malevolence
• vindictiveness
• surliness
• spleen
• ungraciousness
• rancor
• gall

Dissimilar Words

• diplomacy
• sympathy
• kindness
• politeness
• courtesy
• sweetness
• warmth
• cordiality
• civility
• geniality
• compassion
• tenderness
• graciousness
• softness
• tactfulness
• smoothness
• urbanity
• suavity
• oiliness
• suaveness
• unctuousness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of sour grapes

While that may have sounded like sour grapes, a trio of researchers recently uncovered evidence that confirms such suspicions aren’t entirely imagined. — Emil Steiner, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026

Philly flashbacks There was no shortage of hard feelings (and maybe some sour grapes) when the 49ers lost 31-7 in the NFC Championship Game following the 2022 season when Haason Reddick sacked Purdy and tore the UCL in his right elbow. — Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026

Without an admission of faults of one’s own, an outburst reads as sour grapes. — Anna Holmes, The Atlantic, 16 Dec. 2025

Talk about turning sour grapes into good wine. — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Nov. 2025