as in hostility
informal
unfair criticism that comes from someone who is disappointed about not getting something
His remarks are nothing but sour grapes.
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Recent Examples of sour grapes
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
The success gap between them prompted some to see Ebeling’s Instagram post as sour grapes.
—E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2025
Sullivan said Susskind’s criticism of TV was pure sour grapes.
—Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for 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
The success gap between them prompted some to see Ebeling’s Instagram post as sour grapes.
—E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2025
Sullivan said Susskind’s criticism of TV was pure sour grapes.
—Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sour grapes
Cite this Entry
“Sour grapes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sour%20grapes. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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