grump

American  

[gruhmp] / grʌmp /

noun

1. a person given to constant complaining.

2. Informal. the grumps, a depressed or sulky mood.

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verb (used without object)

1. to complain or sulk.

grump British  

/ ɡrʌmp /

noun

1. a surly or bad-tempered person

2. (plural) a sulky or morose mood (esp in the phrase have the grumps )

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verb

1. (intr) to complain or grumble

Etymology

Origin of grump

First recorded in 1835–45; probably back formation from grumpy

Explanation

A grouchy, complaining person is a grump. If you mope around all week during a rainy vacation with your family, don't be surprised if they call you a grump. Before grump came to mean a cranky person, the phrase the grumps was used for "a fit of ill-humor." The word may stem from a now-obsolete adjective, grum, "morose or surly." If your neighbor is a grump, he won't be amused by the massive water balloon fight in your yard — but it still may be worth baking him some cookies as an apology for scaring his little dog.

Example Sentences

It's the kind of Charles we've seen before, the inflexible grump of Prince Harry's "Spare," the icy antagonist of the Diana arc of "The Crown."

From Salon • May 5, 2023

One is a cynical grump whose cold-hearted plot to steal Christmas dampens the festive mood.

From BBC • Dec. 12, 2022

So have a good hard grump about it with a favored confidant who is not your sister.

From Washington Post • Jul. 24, 2022

She’s an imp, a grump, a hairy soul.

From New York Times • Jun. 13, 2022

“Grumpity grump grump,” she said on her way out.

From "Auggie & Me" by R. J. Palacio