1
as in complained
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
he grumbled about how sore his feet were after standing all day
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Recent Examples of grumbled
Back then, purists grumbled that the modern reinterpretation of the British classic departed from the rough and tumble identity of Defenders past.
—
John Scott Lewinski, Robb Report, 8 Apr. 2026
Aura grumbled along with her classmates.
—Ava Berger, NPR, 28 Mar. 2026
Robbins was replaced at center by Adam Treu, the Raiders lost 48-21 to a Bucs team led by former Raiders coach Jon Gruden and teammates openly grumbled about Robbins in the aftermath.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
Judy Garland grumbled into a tape recorder in the mid-nineteen-sixties.
—Matt Weinstock, New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2026
Veterans on the starting defense grumbled.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2026
Dallas stumbled, fumbled and grumbled its way to a 122-92 loss, which was somehow not its most lopsided game of the season.
—Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 9 Mar. 2026
As a result, many in the baseball world have grumbled and groaned about the massive spending Los Angeles is doing on the open market.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 16 Feb. 2026
The 59-year-old grumbled that gladhanding throngs of supporters in dusty villages had left him prey to bugs and viruses.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 9 Feb. 2026
John Scott Lewinski, Robb Report, 8 Apr. 2026
Aura grumbled along with her classmates.
—Ava Berger, NPR, 28 Mar. 2026
Robbins was replaced at center by Adam Treu, the Raiders lost 48-21 to a Bucs team led by former Raiders coach Jon Gruden and teammates openly grumbled about Robbins in the aftermath.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
Judy Garland grumbled into a tape recorder in the mid-nineteen-sixties.
—Matt Weinstock, New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2026
Veterans on the starting defense grumbled.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2026
Dallas stumbled, fumbled and grumbled its way to a 122-92 loss, which was somehow not its most lopsided game of the season.
—Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 9 Mar. 2026
As a result, many in the baseball world have grumbled and groaned about the massive spending Los Angeles is doing on the open market.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 16 Feb. 2026
The 59-year-old grumbled that gladhanding throngs of supporters in dusty villages had left him prey to bugs and viruses.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 9 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grumbled
Verb
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But Republicans have long complained that Democrats have used the law to get winnable districts for their Black voters in red states that Republican-leaning white voters could never receive in blue states.—
Nicholas Riccardi,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
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This poll also marks the fifth straight year Americans complained things are getting worse, not better.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The wereboar growled next to Black Pudding, a hulking vicious monster, both focused on ripping Puck and Cordelia to shreds.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
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The jaguar growled, whirled and bit off the protruding head of the arrow.—
Delbert L. Chears,
Outdoor Life,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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None of them screamed commercial hit.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Video from witnesses posted on social media showed rapid gunfire for at least 45 seconds as people screamed and ran for cover.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The storms have rumbled across a number of states for the better part of this week and could continue into the early weekend.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Just outside the main entrance of Spectrum Center, as a saxophone blared and drums rumbled and fans hummed past each other with life, there stood Bradley Davis.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Never whined, even as quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s play deteriorated last season.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
19 Mar. 2026
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The children jumped for joy after winning a game of cornhole; others fell and whined in defeat, but got up to play again.—
Christopher Buchanan,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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As for one consistent complaint heard muttered amid bleary-eyed guests of the former Standard, Schrager confirms the appropriate adjustments have been made.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Nov. 2025
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But the other 3%, often muttered by students prospectively examining transfer applications, is distinct.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Critics moaned when the CFP committee picked the Hurricanes over Notre Dame as the last Power 4 entry into the playoffs.—
Chris Hays,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Jan. 2026
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Strapped to a stretcher in the back of an ambulance, the shooting victim moaned, then screamed.—
Lauren Caruba,
Dallas Morning News,
2 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Grumbled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grumbled. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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