1
as in grunting
speech that is not clear enough to be understood
preoccupied with what he was doing, the mechanic gave only a grunt when I asked when the car would be ready
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in laborer
a person who does very hard or dull work
we have an opening in the warehouse if you don't mind doing grunt work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to mutter
to speak softly and unclearly
was so absorbed with the video game that when asked what he wanted for dinner, he just grunted
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of grunt
Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 11 Apr. 2025
The conversation builds, with groans and grunts and heaving sighs, rattling the valley and its birds.
—Sarah Matusek, Christian Science Monitor, 4 Apr. 2025
Grayson Haver Currin, Outside Online, 7 Apr. 2025
The man grunts, preoccupied with the survival of his business.
—Hazlitt, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for grunt
Noun
Colt seems to be able to interpret Paco’s grunts as requests to keep a bar, rewind, or start from scratch.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 11 Apr. 2025
The conversation builds, with groans and grunts and heaving sighs, rattling the valley and its birds.
—Sarah Matusek, Christian Science Monitor, 4 Apr. 2025
Verb
The falls, it should be said, are beautiful; pose for a photo, and keep grunting up that hill.
—Grayson Haver Currin, Outside Online, 7 Apr. 2025
The man grunts, preoccupied with the survival of his business.
—Hazlitt, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for grunt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grunt
Noun
-
Authorities had alleged that Haskell had hired four day laborers on Nov. 7, 2023 to dispose of several large trash bags, which one of the laborers said contained body parts.—
Liam Quinn,
People.com,
14 July 2025
-
Farmworker advocates said Friday afternoon that one laborer had died from injuries sustained after falling from the roof of a greenhouse at Glass House cannabis operation while trying to escape federal agents.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 July 2025
Verb
-
Before immediately snapping, sighing loudly, or muttering a passive-aggressive comment, try pausing to consider what else might be going on first: Maybe your barista’s slammed with 10 other complicated orders, for instance, or your housemate had a brutal week at work.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
17 June 2025
-
McMurtry muttering bone-dry jokes at the end of the world.—
Philip Martin,
Arkansas Online,
26 June 2025
Noun
-
Kyle Tucker and Ian Happ both attended the showcase on June 3, 2015, along with some construction workers who stayed on the project while the major-league club traveled on an extended road trip.—
Patrick Mooney,
New York Times,
9 July 2025
-
Last month, President Trump acknowledged concerns among agriculture industry leaders that recent immigration enforcement was taking away critical workers.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 July 2025
Verb
-
The teen, bare-chested with unkempt hair under an askew cap, mumbles through a half-hearted apology and refuses to remove his ostentatious sunglasses when asked by the interviewer.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
9 July 2025
-
His few radio appearances were mumbled, halting, awkward.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
5 July 2025
Noun
-
On a sunlit slope above the Aegean, the ruins of an old Greek estate whisper stories of power, legacy, and familial pride.—
Francois Botha,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
-
What was once spoken only in whispers, if at all, by our mothers and grandmothers, is now trending on TikTok.—
Time,
Time,
26 June 2025
Verb
-
The songs are not so much compositions as elliptical confessions, murmured rather than declared.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
5 July 2025
-
Mason's family murmured their disdain from the back of the courtroom while Broadwell addressed her.—
Jade Jackson,
IndyStar,
2 July 2025
Verb
-
The Bulldogs players began to tap their friends and mouth the quarterback’s name.—
Adam Grosbard,
Orange County Register,
5 Mar. 2025
-
Ford decided to mouth his last name at the end, a decision that caused observers to break out in laughter.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
10 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grunt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grunt. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share