grouse

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈgrau̇s 

plural grouse or grouses

: any of various chiefly ground-dwelling birds (family Tetraonidae) that are usually of reddish-brown or other protective color and have feathered legs and that include many important game birds

grouse

2 of 3

verb

groused; grousing

intransitive verb

: complain, grumble

groused about the higher prices

grouser noun

grouse

3 of 3

noun (2)

: complaint

listened to their grouses about working conditions

Synonyms

Verb

• beef
• bellyache
• bitch
• bleat
• carp
• caterwaul
• complain
• crab
• croak
• fuss
• gripe
• grizzle
• grouch
• growl
• grumble
• grump
• holler
• inveigh
• keen
• kick
• kvetch
• maunder [chiefly British]
• moan
• murmur
• mutter
• nag
• repine
• scream
• squawk
• squeal
• wail
• whimper
• whine
• whinge [British]
• yammer
• yawp
• yaup
• yowl

Noun (2)

• beef
• bitch
• bleat
• carp
• complaint
• fuss
• grievance
• gripe
• grouch
• grumble
• holler
• kvetch
• lament
• miserere
• moan
• murmur
• plaint
• squawk
• wail
• whimper
• whine
• whinge [British]
• yammer

Examples of grouse in a Sentence

Verb

She's been grousing to her boss about the working conditions.

Fans have groused that the higher prices are unfair.

Noun (2)

a forum in which employees can air their grouses

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In years past, Alone contestants have survived off of a vast array of critters that live in the sub-arctic: beaver, squirrels, grouse, mice, and rabbits. —Frederick Dreier, Outside Online, 30 Apr. 2025

And their kitchens, to borrow a phrase from Amor Towles’ great novel, A Gentlemen in Moscow, wouldn’t know a goose from a grouse! —Jennifer Leigh Parker, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025

Verb

Instead of grousing, do this: Accept the fact that the brokerage has to cover its costs, but arrange your affairs so that some other customer picks them up. —William Baldwin, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025

Hitters have groused about the park’s angled batter’s eye. —Cody Stavenhagen, The Athletic, 16 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

origin unknown

Verb

origin unknown

Noun (2)

derivative of grouse entry 2

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1531, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1887, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1918, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing grouse

• black grouse
• ruffed grouse
• sage grouse

Rhymes for grouse

• blouse
• bouse
• douse
• dowse
• haus
• louse
• mouse
• rouse
• spouse
• youse
• alehouse
• almshouse

Kids Definition

grouse

1 of 2 noun

ˈgrau̇s 

plural grouse or grouses

: any of various plump-bodied game birds that are usually reddish or grayish brown with feathers on the legs

grouse

2 of 2 verb

groused; grousing

: complain sense 1, grumble

grouser noun