gripe

1 of 2

verb

ˈgrīp 

griped; griping

intransitive verb

1

: to complain with grumbling

Students griped about having too much homework.

2

: to experience pinching and spasmodic pain in the bowels

transitive verb

1

a

: irritate, vex

griped by the new regulations

b

: afflict, distress

2

: to cause pinching and spasmodic pain in the bowels of

3

archaic : seize, grasp

griper noun

gripe

2 of 2

noun

1

: grievance, complaint

Her main gripe was the lack of advancement opportunities.

2

: a pinching spasmodic intestinal pain

—usually used in plural

3

archaic : clutch, grasp

broadly : control, mastery

Synonyms of gripe

Verb

• annoy
• bother
• bug
• irritate
• persecute

Noun

• whine
• complaint
• moan
• grievance
• fuss
• lament

Examples of gripe in a Sentence

Verb

All of the workers were griping about the new regulations.

The students griped that they had too much homework.

Noun

I would rather not listen to gripes about your latest disasters in the dating game.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Some business owners have griped about the latter, which does seem to have been announced lateish, but even a trucking-industry representative quoted in Crain’s said that the administration was working to minimize the effects on its people. —Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 4 June 2026

The return of Rachel Reilly was gloriously entertaining, there was no static majority alliance simply mowing down the opposition, and there were griping eliminations along the way. —Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 4 June 2026

Noun

But Andreassen’s biggest gripe with the system remains its ability to let talented kids from disadvantaged backgrounds slip through the cracks. —Andy Yamashita, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 June 2026

Which brings me to my main gripe. —Julie Klausner, New Yorker, 2 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English, from Old English grīpan; akin to Old High German grīfan to grasp, Lithuanian griebti

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Rhymes for gripe

• hype
• lipe
• pipe
• ripe
• sipe
• skype
• snipe
• stipe
• stripe
• strype
• swipe
• tripe

Kids Definition

gripe

1 of 2 verb

ˈgrīp 

griped; griping

1

archaic : to seize firmly : grip

2

a

: afflict, distress

b

: irritate sense 1, vex

laziness gripes our teacher

3

: to cause or experience spasms of pain in the intestines

4

: complain sense 1

griper noun

gripe

2 of 2 noun

1

: grip entry 2 sense 1

2

a

: affliction sense 1

b

: complaint sense 1

3

: a spasm of pain in the intestines

Medical Definition

gripe

1 of 2 verb

ˈgrīp 

griped; griping

transitive verb

: to cause pinching and spasmodic pain in the bowels of

intransitive verb

: to experience gripes

gripe

2 of 2 noun

: a pinching spasmodic intestinal pain

—usually used in plural