grunt 1 of 2

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

Relevance
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

grunt

2 of 2

verb

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of grunt
Noun
From the get-go, Sasaki was giving a supreme effort with his grunts after releasing his pitches audible in the field-level seats. Jay Paris, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025 The sounds of grunts, punches and a little soft jazz ran through the speaker system. Ahmed Ali Akbar, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 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
  • The exploitation of enslaved laborers on cane plantations increased supply and decreased production costs.
    Nina Foster, JSTOR Daily, 28 Mar. 2025
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • The president justified the decision by saying the duty fees would spur automakers to build more vehicles in America, and, in the process, create more jobs for the country’s workers.
    Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Nationwide, 1 in 4 direct care workers are immigrants, according to a policy brief from PHI, an advocacy group for elder care and disability service workers.
    Mercedes Vigon, The Conversation, 4 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • 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
  • Some people are forthright when Boulet asks, with a cameraman in tow, a question that is often not spoken, or at most in a locker-room whisper.
    The New York Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
  • In truth, whispers have been circulating for months that a The Row homewares line might be in the works.
    Liam Hess, Vogue, 8 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • 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
  • The Bulldogs players began to tap their friends and mouth the quarterback’s name.
    Adam Grosbard, Orange County Register, 5 Mar. 2025
  • 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grunt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grunt. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on grunt

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!