grumpy
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
Etymology
Origin of grumpy
1770–80; grump expressive word, first attested in the phrase humps and grumps slights and snubs + -y 1
Explanation
When your friend suggests a restaurant but you’re in a bad mood so you say “That’s a stupid restaurant” — even though you don’t really mind it — then you’re being grumpy, meaning irritable or grouchy. There are all kinds of reasons for feeling grumpy: maybe you’re tired or annoyed or you have a headache. Whatever the cause, when you’re grumpy you just want to sulk in a corner. Even though it’s a negative word, it’s a pretty gentle one. When you're grumpy, you’re not mad or mean — you’re just unpleasant for the moment. But don’t tell someone who’s grumpy that he's being grumpy . . . He likely won’t respond kindly to that.
Vocabulary lists containing grumpy
"Dr. Seuss" by Jill Foran
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Shiloh
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for November 26–December 2, 2022
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
He achieved greatness though an epic amplification of a uniquely L.A. positivity in which grumpy became wistful.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 24, 2026
“Trips to China have made me grumpy and given me a bad attitude toward American-market EVs,” wrote Kevin Williams at InsideEVs.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 7, 2026
"You get grumpy when you get delays at airports but we should think about people who are dying."
From BBC ● Mar. 1, 2026
Instead, grumpy naysayers say our brains conduct “cognitive offload.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 7, 2025
“She's been grumpy today,” Laura said, coming back into the kitchen, Athena's crying quelled.
From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
But French fans, despite their tricolore turnouts up and down the East Coast, became even grumpier during their win over Iraq after enduring a lengthy delay and biblical downpour.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
"There are some similarities between me and my main character but she's much grumpier than me. I'd make a useless sleuth," said Perry.
From BBC ● Jun. 2, 2026
A little of both, I’d say, although with Biden, I don’t think of him as particularly grumpy, and there are times when being grumpier might help his cause.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 6, 2024
In an interview with The Guardian, Sudeikis said he originally conceived of Ted as a grumpier, more caustic figure.
From Salon ● May 16, 2023
Professor Treebaun walked in a moment later, looking decidedly grumpier than usual at being called in so early to monitor a test he’d watched me fail less than twenty-four hours ago.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
Five young Pallas's cats, dubbed the world's grumpiest feline for their sullen facial expressions, went on display at a zoo in Japan on Thursday.
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
"He wouldn’t put his name on the list for a nursing home knowing nobody would take the cat, who has the grumpiest meow I've ever heard."
From Fox News ● Jan. 11, 2022
“He wouldn’t put his name on the list for a nursing home knowing nobody would take the cat, who has the grumpiest meow I’ve ever heard.”
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 11, 2022
John seemed the grumpiest of men, but in key ways he was an optimist.
From New York Times ● Jun. 29, 2018
Otis looked like the world’s largest, grumpiest ballet dancer.
From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
