Synonyms for grumble

Most common

mutter · complain · rumble · groan · grouch · scold

Synonyms by meaning

Verb

Noun

Antonyms

praise, rejoice, compliment

All antonyms of grumble →

Definitions

1. v. 1

   To complain; to murmur or mutter with discontent; to make ill-natured complaints in a low voice and a surly manner.

   He grumbles about the food constantly, but has yet to learn to cook.

2. v. 2

   To make a low, growling or rumbling noise, like a hungry stomach or certain animals.

   The distant thunder grumbles.

3. n. 1

   A high thundering, rumbling or growling sound.

Related words

Word family

grumbler

Forms

Plural

grumbles → mutterings, murmurings, complaints, rumblings…

Past participle

grumbled
e.g. grumbled → muttered, complained, rumbled, moaned…

Example sentences

• complain I heard some students complain about the homework.
• rumble From somewhere in the distance came an ominous rumble.
• groan Tobias heard a very faint groan in the dark.
• mutter Tobias heard Isabella mutter: "Oh, shit!"
• scold I cannot scold Taninna. She's still a little girl.
• grouch I'm a grouch before I have my first cup of coffee.

Popularity over time

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters

roar¹, moan¹

5 letters

bitch¹, pinch¹, groan¹, growl¹, scold¹, gripe¹, snarl¹, croak¹, gnarl¹

6 letters

rumble², grouse¹, murmur², mutter², grouch¹, yammer

8 letters

complain², rumbling³

9 letters

complaint², muttering³, murmuring³, bellyache³

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (rumble² = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français

ronchonner

Deutsch

nörgeln