grumpy

adjective

ˈgrəm-pē 

grumpier; grumpiest

: moodily cross : surly

grumpily

ˈgrəm-pə-lē 

adverb

grumpiness

ˈgrəm-pē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• choleric
• crabby
• cranky
• cross
• crotchety
• fiery
• grouchy
• irascible
• irritable
• peevish
• perverse
• pettish
• petulant
• prickly
• quick-tempered
• raspy
• ratty
• short-tempered
• snappish
• snappy
• snarky
• snippety
• snippy
• stuffy
• testy
• waspish

Examples of grumpy in a Sentence

Our neighbor is a grumpy old man.

I was feeling grumpy after my long flight.

Recent Examples on the Web

Share [Findings] Marine biologists described the Red Sea’s grumpy dwarfgoby. —Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 22 Jan. 2025

These residents are forever loyal, even when grumpy, about their teams. —Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 19 Jan. 2025

Famously grumpy, Newton probably didn't come up with his theory of gravity from idly sitting and daydreaming beneath a tree while an apple fell on his head, as the old story goes. —Keith Cooper, Space.com, 13 Jan. 2025

And just three years ago, a story in the online newsletter The Conversation noted research from 2019 found that older women are often relegated to supporting roles in films—or are consistently portrayed as grumpy, frumpy, or senile. —Valerie Monroe, Allure, 7 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1778, in the meaning defined above