grumble
to murmur or mutter in discontent; complain sullenly: Tim always found something to grumble about.
to utter low, indistinct sounds; growl: Suddenly I heard my stomach grumble, and realized I hadn't had any lunch.
to rumble: The thunder grumbled in the west.
to express or utter with murmuring or complaining.
an expression of discontent; complaint; unhappy murmur; growl.
grumbles, a grumbling, discontented mood.
a rumble.
Origin of grumble
1synonym study For grumble
Other words from grumble
- grumbler, noun
- grum·bling·ly, adverb
- grumbly, adjective
- un·grum·bling, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use grumble in a sentence
This is before my wife comes in and hijacks the radio to listen to the Rai 1 news bulletin, which always sets off grumbles about the Conte government.
Last week’s vaccine-led rally was one for the record books—but is all that good news already priced in? | Bernhard Warner | November 16, 2020 | FortuneSpall 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 | THE DAILY BEASTNow 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 | THE DAILY BEASTLiberals 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 | THE DAILY BEASTSpitzer 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 | THE DAILY BEAST
This came after months of grumbling about disappointing iPhone sales, and reports of a possibly too-small opening in China.
In spite of this there was no grumbling, and the men, as their general reported, pressed on with cries of "Vive la Rpublique!"
Napoleon's Marshals | R. P. Dunn-PattisonMeanwhile, both the disciples of Somers and the disciples of Trenchard were grumbling at Harley's resolution.
The History of England from the Accession of James II. | Thomas Babington MacaulayThe owner of the slippers was folding the robe and laying it over the rail, and grumbling to himself all the while.
Cabin Fever | B. M. BowerThat was all the comfort she gave Norman, and she walked in to pour out a furious grumbling upon Margaret.
The Daisy Chain | Charlotte YongeHe came opposite, lurched almost on them, touched them with a groping hand and passed, grumbling.
The Woman Gives | Owen Johnson
British Dictionary definitions for grumble
/ (ˈɡrʌmbəl) /
to utter (complaints) in a nagging or discontented way
(intr) to make low dull rumbling sounds
a complaint; grouse
a low rumbling sound
Origin of grumble
1Derived forms of grumble
- grumbler, noun
- grumblingly, adverb
- grumbly, adjective
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
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