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

OpenAI's legal team has argued that Musk is motivated by sour grapes and is out to damage a competitor. — John Ruwitch, NPR, 12 May 2026

Several of our panelists suggested Ohtani should shift to relief or quit pitching altogether — but that could just be sour grapes after Ohtani returned his second major elbow surgery to perform as a two-way player in 2025. — Andy McCullough, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2026

When ripe, the berries offer a sweet-tart flavor profile with a unique, sharp, and tangy taste reminiscent of sour grapes or rhubarb. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 14 Feb. 2026

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