gripe

1 of 2

verb

griped; griping

intransitive verb

1
: to complain with grumbling
Students griped about having too much homework.
2
: to experience gripes

transitive verb

1
a
: irritate, vex
griped by the new regulations
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 his utter lack of ambition.
2
: a pinching spasmodic intestinal pain
usually used in plural
3
archaic : clutch, grasp
broadly : control, mastery

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
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.
Verb
Business leaders, a contingent that has largely supported Trump, spent hours griping in press releases and on CNBC. Members of Trump’s own party, who were hearing it from their constituents, pleaded with the administration to backtrack. David Goldman, CNN, 5 Mar. 2025 The writer Eric Alterman, who had griped in the thread about not receiving a galley, was among the attendees and still without a book. Paula Aceves, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025
Noun
Courtesy of Sony Poor off-axis viewing has long been my biggest gripe with LED TVs, especially compared to OLED counterparts. Ryan Waniata, WIRED, 13 Mar. 2025 However, Spencer went on to explain that his original gripe with the exchange was that after telling the representative his home burned down, the employee continued the standard prompt of questions and inquired about the cable boxes. Moná Thomas, People.com, 8 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for gripe

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of gripe was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gripe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gripe. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

gripe

1 of 2 verb
griped; griping
1
archaic : to seize firmly : grip
2
b
: irritate sense 1, vex
laziness gripes our teacher
3
: to cause or experience spasms of pain in the intestines
4
griper noun

gripe

2 of 2 noun
1
2
3
: a spasm of pain in the intestines

Medical Definition

gripe

1 of 2 verb
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

More from Merriam-Webster on gripe

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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