gripe

1 of 2

verb

ˈgrīp 

griped; griping

intransitive verb

1

: to complain with grumbling

Students griped about having too much homework.

2

: to experience pinching and spasmodic pain in the bowels

transitive verb

1

a

: irritate, vex

griped by the new regulations

b

: afflict, distress

2

: to cause pinching and spasmodic pain in the bowels of

3

archaic : seize, grasp

griper noun

gripe

2 of 2

noun

1

: grievance, complaint

Her main gripe was the lack of advancement opportunities.

2

: a pinching spasmodic intestinal pain

—usually used in plural

3

archaic : clutch, grasp

broadly : control, mastery

Synonyms of gripe

Verb

• annoy
• bother
• bug
• irritate
• persecute

Noun

• whine
• complaint
• moan
• grievance
• fuss
• lament

Examples of gripe in a Sentence

Verb

All of the workers were griping about the new regulations.

The students griped that they had too much homework.

Noun

I would rather not listen to gripes about your latest disasters in the dating game.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The fire department — some of whose members had publicly griped about Doherty and Lindsay — initially suggested the fire was an act of arson, with one firefighter stating so via the company’s dispatch and later noting the presence of turpentine, a flammable solvent. —Sean Patrick Cooper, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2025

Some superfans will surely gripe that a movie in which a Predator is the hero and central protagonist represents a betrayal of what has always been a pretty dark, gory, and nihilistic action franchise. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025

Noun

Our main gripe was the quality of the lens caps and the thin neck strap. —Chris McMullen, Space.com, 25 Nov. 2025

But my guess is the Eagles would hear gripes about a game plan that might seem conservative or inconsistent with the high-end offensive personnel and explain it as necessary to win that particular game. —Zach Berman, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English, from Old English grīpan; akin to Old High German grīfan to grasp, Lithuanian griebti

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Rhymes for gripe

• hype
• lipe
• pipe
• ripe
• sipe
• skype
• snipe
• stipe
• stripe
• strype
• swipe
• tripe

Kids Definition

gripe

1 of 2 verb

ˈgrīp 

griped; griping

1

archaic : to seize firmly : grip

2

a

: afflict, distress

b

: irritate sense 1, vex

laziness gripes our teacher

3

: to cause or experience spasms of pain in the intestines

4

: complain sense 1

griper noun

gripe

2 of 2 noun

1

: grip entry 2 sense 1

2

a

: affliction sense 1

b

: complaint sense 1

3

: a spasm of pain in the intestines

Medical Definition

gripe

1 of 2 verb

ˈgrīp 

griped; griping

transitive verb

: to cause pinching and spasmodic pain in the bowels of

intransitive verb

: to experience gripes

gripe

2 of 2 noun

: a pinching spasmodic intestinal pain

—usually used in plural