grumbled

verb

past tense of grumble
1
as in complained
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely he grumbled about how sore his feet were after standing all day

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in growled
to make a low heavy rolling sound heavily loaded trucks grumbling as they passed over the steel bridge

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of grumbled The rest of us either quietly grumbled, or our comments were drowned in a sea of nastiness. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026 Rotten sat alone on an old, overstuffed couch and grumbled to himself while Sidney entertained the four ladies. — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026 There was a parade, and the masses grumbled over the faint legitimacy of the ordeal. — Noah White, Miami Herald, 17 Aug. 2026 American consumers have grumbled about higher gas prices, but the S&P 500 is up almost 9 percent since the joint American-Israeli operation that started the war in February. — Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 9 July 2026 The congresswoman, her staffer and I grumbled about how unpredictable the House schedule has been lately. — Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 1 July 2026 Some soccer purists grumbled about the World Cup expanding this year from 32 to 48 teams. — Michael Cunningham, AJC.com, 29 June 2026 While diehards have grumbled about the two intervals, which enable media partners to air as many as 10 in-match commercials per game, the opportunity to squeeze some extra revenue out of the FIFA mandate has been too lucrative for Fox to pass up. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 17 June 2026 Fans grumbled and became apathetic. — Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 14 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grumbled
  1. complained
  2. growled
  3. screamed
  4. rumbled
  5. whined
  6. muttered
  7. moaned
Verb
  • Some bettors have complained about customer service and payout issues being unresolved due to difficulties reaching a live person.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Colorado officials report that more than 100 people across Boulder County have also complained to the Federal Communications Commission.
    — Sarah Horbacewicz, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of complained
Verb
  • Since then, Barkley has growled at several other people, and all but one have been diagnosed with some type of cancer, Dozier said.
    — Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 11 Aug. 2026
  • At the other end of our road, the cranes of the docks loomed — great Stothert and Pitt machines that growled overhead like something out of Star Wars, guarding the scale and mystery of the River Thames.
    — Lee Clayton, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of growled
Verb
  • Peralta pumped a fist and screamed joyfully walking off the mound in the sixth after fanning Petey Halpin swinging at a 3-2 changeup.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Back in California, Dodgers fans screamed at their television sets.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of screamed
Verb
  • Chez Fonfon sits at the crux of Five Points South, a neighborhood named for five streets that converge in a star shape where streetcars connecting the then suburb of Highland to the city once rumbled.
    — Leslie Pariseau, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Rules are changing Early in the second quarter, Wilson rumbled into the lane and attempted to use his off arm to create a few inches of space before laying the ball across the rim.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of rumbled
Verb
  • Post-Covid, Hollywood has whined about the falloff for MPA fare in Pan Asian territories, particularly the once-robust South Korea.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 28 July 2026
  • After a few casts, Rubye’s rod bent, and the reel whined as line spooled out.
    — John Todd, Outdoor Life, 9 July 2026
Definition of whined
Verb
  • The camera then cut to McCarthy, who muttered a profanity in response.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Heti stared at the drawing in front of her and muttered whatever under her breath.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of muttered
Verb
  • Coach Arne Slot moaned about VAR but his problems lie much closer to home.
    — Phil Hay, New York Times, 4 May 2026
  • 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
Definition of moaned

Browse Nearby Words

grumble
grumbled
grumbler
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Cite this Entry

“Grumbled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grumbled. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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