Meaning & use
grump
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Meanings
nouncountableinformal
A person who is often in a bad mood and complains easily.
Grammar: Refers to a person: he's a grump before coffee.
Patterns
- a grump about something
My grandfather can be a grump in the mornings.
Don't be such a grump; it's a lovely day.
The office grump complained about the new chairs.
nounusually pluralinformalBritish
A fit of bad temper or sulking.
Grammar: Usually used in the grumps: she has the grumps.
Patterns
- have the grumps
The toddler had the grumps all afternoon.
I think I've got the grumps because I'm tired.
A long wait gave everyone the grumps.
verbintransitiveinformal
To complain or speak in a sulky, bad-tempered way.
Grammar: No object; often followed by about.
Patterns
- grump about something
He grumped about the traffic all the way home.
She grumped quietly while she did the dishes.
Stop grumping and help me carry this.
Word forms
| plural | grumps |
|---|---|
| third person singular | grumps |
| past tense | grumped |
| -ing form | grumping |
Common combinations
- old grump
- He's a lovable old grump.
- grump about
- They grump about the weather every week.
- grumpy old man
- The film follows a grumpy old man and a stray dog.
- have the grumps
- I always have the grumps when I'm hungry.
- morning grump
- Give her a minute; she's a morning grump.
Synonyms and how they differ
- curmudgeon
- Curmudgeon implies a stubborn, usually older person, and sounds slightly more literary than grump.
- grouch
- Grouch is almost the same, though it suggests more open complaining.
- killjoy
- Killjoy focuses on spoiling other people's fun, not on being in a bad mood.
- sourpuss
- Sourpuss is a playful term emphasizing a sour facial expression.
Opposites
Word family
- grumpy adjective
- in a bad mood and irritable
- grumpily adverb
- in an irritable, bad-tempered way
- grumpiness noun
- the state of being irritable
- grumble verb
- to complain in a low, unhappy voice
Commonly confused: grump or grunt?
grump vs grunt
A grunt is a short low sound, not a bad-tempered person; the words only look similar.
Practice
Dad is a bit of a ______ until he's had his coffee.
Choose one answer.
A grump is someone often in a bad mood. Grasp is a different word entirely meaning to hold or understand.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “grump”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.