Meaning & use
grumpiness
Last updated
UK/ˈɡrʌmpinəs/
US/ˈɡrʌmpinəs/
Meaning
noununcountableinformal
A bad-tempered, irritable mood in which someone is easily annoyed and unpleasant to be around.
Grammar: Never takes an or a plural: his grumpiness, not a grumpiness.
Patterns
- someone's grumpiness
- grumpiness about something
His grumpiness disappeared after a good breakfast.
Lack of sleep often leads to grumpiness in small children.
Nobody could explain her sudden grumpiness at dinner.
Common combinations
- morning grumpiness
- I blame my morning grumpiness on the early alarm.
- cause of grumpiness
- Hunger is a common cause of grumpiness.
- a bout of grumpiness
- He apologized for his bout of grumpiness.
- cure grumpiness
- A walk in the fresh air seemed to cure her grumpiness.
- grumpiness and tiredness
- The trip left us all with grumpiness and tiredness.
Synonyms and how they differ
- irritability
- Irritability is more formal and sounds more medical, while grumpiness sounds casual and often a little amusing.
- crankiness
- Crankiness is very close but is common in American English and often used about tired children.
- bad temper
- Bad temper can describe a lasting character trait, while grumpiness is usually a temporary mood.
- sulkiness
- Sulkiness suggests silent resentment, whereas grumpiness is often shown by complaining.
Opposites
cheerfulnessgood humor
Word family
Commonly confused: grumpiness or grumpiness vs grumbling?
grumpiness vs grumpiness vs grumbling
Grumbling is the act of complaining quietly, whereas grumpiness is the mood behind it.
Practice
Which phrase is correct?
Choose one answer.
Grumpiness is uncountable, so it is used without an or a plural. His grumpiness is the natural choice.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “grumpiness”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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