grumble

[gruhm-buh l]

See more synonyms for grumble on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), grum·bled, grum·bling.

to murmur or mutter in discontent; complain sullenly.
to utter low, indistinct sounds; growl.
to rumble: The thunder grumbled in the west.

verb (used with object), grum·bled, grum·bling.

to express or utter with murmuring or complaining.

noun

an expression of discontent; complaint; unhappy murmur; growl.
grumbles, a grumbling, discontented mood.
a rumble.

Origin of grumble

1580–90; perhaps frequentative of Old English grymman to wail; compare Dutch grommelen, German grummeln, French grommeler (< Gmc)

Related formsgrum·bler, noungrum·bling·ly, adverbgrum·bly, adjectiveun·grum·bling, adjective

Synonym study

1. See complain.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for grumbling

Contemporary Examples

Spall plays him brilliantly as a grumbling, grunting beast of a man whose sensitivity and kindness emerges slowly.
Mike Leigh Is the Master Filmmaker Who Hates Hollywood
Nico Hines
October 14, 2014
Now the grumbling is getting louder—and increasingly it focuses on the president himself.
Don’t Call It a Frum-Back: What’s Changed After Three Months Away
David Frum
September 4, 2013
Liberals have been grumbling for a while about the Obama administration.
Don’t Call It a Frum-Back: What’s Changed After Three Months Away
David Frum
September 4, 2013
Spitzer rolled his eyes at the interruption, grumbling a perfunctory “very funny.”
Eliot Spitzer Mobbed by Press, Heckled at First Campaign Stop
David Freedlander
July 9, 2013
This came after months of grumbling about disappointing iPhone sales, and reports of a possibly too-small opening in China.
Why Apple’s Stock Is Down
Matthew Zeitlin
January 14, 2013

Historical Examples

With all his grumbling, he had not contemplated Jenkins being away more than a day or two.
The Channings
Mrs. Henry Wood
They went through the cloisters to the south gate, Ketch grumbling all the way.
The Channings
Mrs. Henry Wood
The artistes gradually began to arrive, grumbling more or less.
My Double Life
Sarah Bernhardt
If we have been grumbling in our hearts, it is to God we must confess: who else has to do with the matter?
Salted With Fire
George MacDonald
So tall Clemence dressed herself again, grumbling the while.
L'Assommoir
Emile Zola

British Dictionary definitions for grumbling

grumble

verb

to utter (complaints) in a nagging or discontented way
(intr) to make low dull rumbling sounds

noun

a complaint; grouse
a low rumbling sound

Derived Formsgrumbler, noungrumblingly, adverbgrumbly, adjective

Word Origin

C16: from Middle Low German grommelen, of Germanic origin; see grim

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for grumbling

grumble

v.

1580s, from Middle French grommeler "mutter between the teeth" or directly from Middle Dutch grommelen "murmur, mutter, grunt," from grommen "to rumble, growl." Imitative, or perhaps akin to grim. Related: Grumbled; grumbling.

grumble

n.

1620s, from grumble (v.).

grumble

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Synonym study

Examples from the Web for grumbling

Contemporary Examples

Spall plays him brilliantly as a grumbling, grunting beast of a man whose sensitivity and kindness emerges slowly.

Now the grumbling is getting louder—and increasingly it focuses on the president himself.

Liberals have been grumbling for a while about the Obama administration.

Spitzer rolled his eyes at the interruption, grumbling a perfunctory “very funny.”

This came after months of grumbling about disappointing iPhone sales, and reports of a possibly too-small opening in China.

Historical Examples

With all his grumbling, he had not contemplated Jenkins being away more than a day or two.

They went through the cloisters to the south gate, Ketch grumbling all the way.

The artistes gradually began to arrive, grumbling more or less.

If we have been grumbling in our hearts, it is to God we must confess: who else has to do with the matter?

So tall Clemence dressed herself again, grumbling the while.

grumble

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for grumbling

grumble

v.

grumble

n.

Origin of grumble