1
: a thin porridge
2
3
: something that lacks substance or significance
the argument was thin gruel
Examples of gruel in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The producer followed up a day later with a memo criticizing his star for over-stirring the gruel in a breakfast scene.
—
Peter Bart, Deadline, 25 Oct. 2024
Taro and millet have got scarce, and since there’s hardly any rice left the gruel is thin.
—Hiromi Kawakami, The New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2024
As the government eliminated private property and food became scarce, rice gruel became a staple and people began eating insects, bats, and even poisonous fruits.
—Shamilee Vellu, Travel + Leisure, 2 Aug. 2024
His only diversion was to make pictures using the hard bits of grain collected from the meager gruel his jailers gave him.
—Adam Nossiter, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gruel 
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.
Peter Bart, Deadline, 25 Oct. 2024
Taro and millet have got scarce, and since there’s hardly any rice left the gruel is thin.
—Hiromi Kawakami, The New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2024
As the government eliminated private property and food became scarce, rice gruel became a staple and people began eating insects, bats, and even poisonous fruits.
—Shamilee Vellu, Travel + Leisure, 2 Aug. 2024
His only diversion was to make pictures using the hard bits of grain collected from the meager gruel his jailers gave him.
—Adam Nossiter, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gruel
Dictionary Entries Near gruel
Cite this Entry
“Gruel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gruel. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
gruel
noun
gru·el
ˈgrü-əl 
: a thin food made by boiling cereal (as oatmeal or cornmeal) in water or milk
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share