grumpy
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
- grumpily adverb
- grumpiness noun
- ungrumpy adjective
Etymology
Origin of grumpy
1770–80; grump expressive word, first attested in the phrase humps and grumps slights and snubs + -y 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Speaking on BBC Test Match Special, Hartley said she had been "grumpy" because she had started her period during the third Test between England and Australia.
From BBC • Dec. 30, 2025
He said it was only after "a lot of shouting and a lot of being very grumpy" that the Christmas dinner went ahead on Wednesday with additional agency staff and an external chef.
From BBC • Dec. 22, 2025
Instead, grumpy naysayers say our brains conduct “cognitive offload.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 7, 2025
With Musk in place and chasing his record payday, grumpy valuation math can give way for now to open-ended optimism about Tesla’s robo future.
From Barron's • Oct. 31, 2025
He is looking mean and grumpy, like maybe he’s disgusted with himself for lettin’ me have that dog so easy.
From "Shiloh" by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
