1
as in grunting
speech that is not clear enough to be understood
preoccupied with what he was doing, the mechanic gave only a grunt when I asked when the car would be ready
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in laborer
a person who does very hard or dull work
we have an opening in the warehouse if you don't mind doing grunt work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to mutter
to speak softly and unclearly
was so absorbed with the video game that when asked what he wanted for dinner, he just grunted
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of grunt
Brandon Kochkodin, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
The narrator is flailing, doing grunt work after a mysterious event has turned the world into a wasteland.
—Grace Byron, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2025
Louis Casiano, Fox News, 26 Feb. 2025
Chase and Danni go to the master to hook up, and we’re subjected to some late-night sounds of Chase grunting.
—Emma Soren, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grunt
Noun
Wilson needed someone to handle grunt work while learning the business-buying process.
—Brandon Kochkodin, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
The narrator is flailing, doing grunt work after a mysterious event has turned the world into a wasteland.
—Grace Byron, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2025
Verb
The rescuers grunted audibly while trying to pull him out.
—Louis Casiano, Fox News, 26 Feb. 2025
Chase and Danni go to the master to hook up, and we’re subjected to some late-night sounds of Chase grunting.
—Emma Soren, Vulture, 21 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for grunt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for grunt
Noun
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The exploitation of enslaved laborers on cane plantations increased supply and decreased production costs.—
Nina Foster,
JSTOR Daily,
28 Mar. 2025
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Recreational leagues featured Japanese, Filipino, white and Portuguese laborers, who unwound after a long day of harvest with a few innings of baseball.—
Rachel Ng,
Smithsonian Magazine,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Victoria barely muttered a word to Kate, who approached the Ratliffs during a meal, making the exchange extra awkward.—
Alli Rosenbloom,
CNN Money,
5 Apr. 2025
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Gray muttered at a moderator, pointing at the placard on the postgame table that proudly displayed his name: Hayden Gray.—
Luca Evans,
The Denver Post,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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President Donald Trump's executive orders were hit with another round of legal blocks this week, on everything from firing federal workers to Social Security data.—
Lee Habeeb,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Apr. 2025
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The Department of Government Efficiency’s actions weren’t expected to have a big impact just yet: While nearly 300,000 job cuts have been announced, not all federal workers were laid off immediately, so the impact to the labor market and unemployment is going to be a slow drip.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The mumbling girl is ill and must be taken to hospital, where her mother whimpers prayers over her.—
Namwali Serpell,
The New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2025
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After exiting the ride, Christopher Hawley walked haltingly, held onto a handrail for support and mumbled that his head hurt, according to the lawsuit.—
Brady MacDonald,
Orange County Register,
19 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The genetic testing company that once held the vision of unlocking the secrets of our DNA filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, its valuation whittled down to a whisper of its former $6 billion peak.—
Anisha Sircar,
Forbes,
25 Mar. 2025
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Related article High anxiety and whispers of a conclave: How the Vatican is dealing with Pope Francis’ hospitalization Alfieri, who led the team at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, said the decision to continue with treatment was made by Francis’ nurse.—
Christopher Lamb,
CNN,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Just murmuring in response to his questions, Don’t know, and, later, in the hotel room, shrinking from his angry face, pleading, Sorry, so sorry.—
Joyce Carol Oates,
The New Yorker,
16 Mar. 2025
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There was a clear rise in noise in the room as people murmured about the person who had just entered.—
Alex Sherman,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The Bulldogs players began to tap their friends and mouth the quarterback’s name.—
Adam Grosbard,
Orange County Register,
5 Mar. 2025
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Ford decided to mouth his last name at the end, a decision that caused observers to break out in laughter.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
10 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Grunt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grunt. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
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