grousing

ADJECTIVE

carping

Synonyms

STRONG

bellyaching caviling criticizing disparaging griping grumbling kvetching moaning nagging niggling quibbling whining

WEAK

censorious critical deprecatory fault-finding grouchy hypercritical nit-picking overcritical scathing

Antonyms

WEAK

complimentary forgiving

ADJECTIVE

disgruntled

Synonyms

STRONGEST

annoyed irritated testy

STRONG

bellyaching crabbing disappointed discontent discontented displeased dissatisfied griping kicking kvetching peeved vexed

WEAK

bad tempered crabby cranky grouchy grumpy irritable malcontent malcontented peevish petulant put out sulky sullen uncontent ungratified

Antonyms

STRONG

contented happy pleased satisfied

WEAK

uncritical

ADJECTIVE

peevish

Synonyms

WEAK

acrimonious angry bad-tempered cantankerous captious carping caviling childish churlish complaining crabbed cranky critical cross crotchety crusty cussed fault-finding fractious fretful fretting grouchy growling grumpy huffy ill-natured mean morose obstinate ogre ornery out-of-sorts pertinacious petulant querulous short-tempered snappy splenetic sulky sullen surly tetchy touchy ugly waspish waspy whining

Antonyms

WEAK

accepting friendly happy pleasant

ADJECTIVE

plaintive

Synonyms

STRONGEST

grief-stricken heartrending melancholy mournful sad sorrowful wistful

WEAK

beefing bellyaching cantankerous crabby cranky disconsolate doleful grievous grumpy lamenting lugubrious out of sorts pathetic piteous pitiful rueful saddening wailing woeful

Antonyms

STRONGEST

cheerful happy joyful

ADJECTIVE

querulous

Synonyms

WEAK

bearish bemoaning cantankerous captious carping censorious complaining critical cross crying deploring discontented dissatisfied edgy fault-finding fretful grumbling grumbly huffy irritable lamenting out of sorts peevish petulant plaintive scrappy snappy sour testy thin-skinned touchy uptight wailing waspish waspy whimpering whining whiny

Antonyms

WEAK

cheerful easygoing happy

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The ladies agree to allot 20 minutes to grousing about their aches and pains, and then they have to move on to some appointed discussion topic.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

At the time, “Ohio” received criticism similar to the reaction to “Streets of Minneapolis:” a mix of grousing about rich rock stars capitalizing on tragedy combined with grumbling that the song just wasn’t very good.

From Salon • Feb. 10, 2026

By Tuesday night, however, he was grousing on his Truth Social website that China wasn't giving credit to the US for its support in World War Two.

From BBC • Sep. 3, 2025

Ministerial functions like car registration and Medicare enrollment and, sure, passport issuance always take the brunt of grousing about the government being so ineffectual.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 21, 2025

I left him grousing about the state of his finances and headed off to the machinery tent.

From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly

grousing

Example Sentences

Related Words