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

Instead of confronting the grumpy old man in his present, the Doctor goes back in time and changes his childhood memories right before his eyes. —Andy Biggs, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024

The grumpy old man has one Christmas Eve left to face his past and build a better future. —Skyler Caruso, People.com, 21 Dec. 2024

Early pantomime theater generally combined two parts: first, a play; and second, a buffoonish slapstick drama featuring four stock characters borrowed from commedia dell’arte: Harlequin; his lady love, Columbine; a grumpy antagonist named Pantaloon; and his assistant, the Clown. —The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 18 Dec. 2024

The story is set in a small town in Southern Sweden, where grumpy widower Ingmar lives a regimented life. —Leo Barraclough, Variety, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1778, in the meaning defined above