grumble

verb

grum·​ble ˈgrəm-bəl How to pronounce grumble (audio)
grumbled; grumbling ˈgrəm-b(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce grumble (audio)
Synonyms of grumblenext

intransitive verb

1
: to mutter in discontent
grumbled about the scarcity of jobs
2
: growl, rumble
Thunder grumbled in the distance.

transitive verb

: to express with grumbling
grumbled his annoyance
grumble noun
grumbler
ˈgrəm-b(ə-)lər How to pronounce grumble (audio)
noun
grumbly
ˈgrəm-b(ə-)lē How to pronounce grumble (audio)
adjective

Synonyms

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Examples of grumble in a Sentence

There's been a lot of grumbling among the employees. Some of the customers have been grumbling about poor service. Fans grumbled about the team's poor play. “When are we going to leave?” he grumbled. We could hear thunder grumbling in the distance.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
President Trump’s big birthday military parade is moving forward this Saturday evening despite divisions in the ranks and even some grumbling from Republican allies. — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 11 June 2025 Voices on the country's political right, meanwhile, have grumbled that the study is too little, and far too late. — Ilan Berman, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 June 2025 Presidents have been grumbling about unelected judges from the beginning of the republic. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 25 May 2025 Sun players have been grumbling about having to practice in the tribe’s community center, often having to share the space with other events. — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 13 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for grumble

Word History

Etymology

probably from Middle French grommeler, ultimately from Middle Dutch grommen; akin to Old High German grimm grim

First Known Use

1580, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of grumble was in 1580

Rhymes for grumble

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Browse Nearby Words

grum
grumble
grumbling
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Cite this Entry

“Grumble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grumble. Accessed 15 Jun. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of grumble for Spanish Speakers

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