grumpy

adjective

ˈgrəm-pē How to pronounce grumpy (audio)
grumpier; grumpiest
Synonyms of grumpy
: easily and often annoyed or angered : surly
grumpily
ˈgrəm-pə-lē How to pronounce grumpy (audio)
adverb
grumpiness
ˈgrəm-pē-nəs How to pronounce grumpy (audio)
noun

Synonyms of grumpy

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Examples of grumpy in a Sentence

Our neighbor is a grumpy old man. I was feeling grumpy after my long flight.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Breakfast with the Grinch brings the belovedly grumpy character to the table for waffle stations, cookie decorating and plenty of festive photo ops. — Alexandra Emanuelli, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2026 Fear not, as the country has finally introduced a rulebook for leasing grumpy, humpy dromedaries. — Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 1 Oct. 2026 And the younger bears are giving him plenty of reasons to be grumpy. — Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026 The film opens upon a typical grumpy New York day, with traffic snarling the streets and horns honking. — Victor Garber, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grumpy

Word History

First Known Use

1750, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of grumpy was in 1750

Rhymes for grumpy

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Browse Nearby Words

grumpish
grumpy
grun
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Cite this Entry

“Grumpy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grumpy. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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