grumpy

Or grump·ish

[gruhm-pee]

adjective

grumpier, grumpiest 

1. surly or ill-tempered; discontentedly or sullenly irritable; grouchy.

grumpy

/ ˈɡrʌmpɪ /

adjective

1. Also: grumpish. peevish; sulky

Other Word Forms

• grumpily adverb
• grumpiness noun
• ungrumpy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of grumpy¹

1770–80; grump expressive word, first attested in the phrase humps and grumps slights and snubs + -y ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of grumpy¹

C18: from _grump + _-y ¹

Example Sentences

Romano shared that Boyle was nothing like his grumpy character Frank.

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“The public in general feels pretty grumpy,” said Kelly — although soured consumer sentiment doesn’t necessarily lead to less spending.

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He had the grumpy, reticent look of a person who preferred animals to people.

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No one is immune to holiday fatigue, and it is contagious: One grumpy traveler can make the rest of his or her party miserable before the station wagon has left the driveway.

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With Musk in place and chasing his record payday, grumpy valuation math can give way for now to open-ended optimism about Tesla’s robo future.

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Related Words

• cantankerous 
• crotchety 
• grouchy 
• irritable 
• sullen 
• surly 
• testy