Grumbling Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
๐
grumbling
[หษกrสmbษlษชล ]
Definition
complaining
Grumbling is the act of complaining or murmuring about something in a low, discontented way. It often involves expressing dissatisfaction or annoyance without taking action to address the issue. People may grumble about various things such as work, weather, or personal relationships.
Synonyms
complaining, grunting, murmuring, muttering.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| grumbling |
When someone is expressing dissatisfaction in a quiet or subdued manner, often under their breath.
|
| complaining |
When someone is expressing dissatisfaction or annoyance about something openly and explicitly.
|
| murmuring |
When someone is speaking softly and quietly, often in an indistinct or low tone, sometimes in a secretive manner.
|
| grunting |
When someone makes low, usually unintelligible, sounds typically out of effort, frustration or discomfort.
|
| muttering |
When someone is speaking in a low and barely audible voice, often in a discontented or grumpy manner.
|
Examples of usage
- He was grumbling about the long hours at work.
- She grumbled under her breath about the cold weather.
- Stop grumbling and start looking for a solution.
- I could hear the grumbling of unhappy customers in the store.
- The students were grumbling about the difficult assignment.
Translations
To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.
Interesting Facts
Psychology
- Research shows that complaining, while sometimes harmful, can also foster social bonding when shared among friends.
- Grumbling can serve as a coping mechanism, allowing individuals to express frustration and relieve stress.
- Expressing grievances through grumbling is often a means to seek change and elicit sympathy from others.
Pop Culture
- In popular cartoons, characters often grumble to highlight their dissatisfaction humorously, making them relatable.
- There are many songs and poems that feature a โgrumblingโ tone to portray a character's displeasure in a comedic or dramatic way.
- Famous literary figures, such as Charles Dickens, often included grumbling characters to critique society and human behavior.
Communication
- Grumbling can convey many feelings, from annoyance to dissatisfaction, often reflecting a reluctance to confront a problem outright.
- Nonverbal cues, like facial expressions and tone, enhance the meaning behind grumbling, indicating how serious the complaint is.
- It often occurs in informal settings, serving as a way to express grievances without engaging in a full confrontation.
Literature
- Grumbling has been used symbolically in literature to represent deeper discontent with life, society, or character flaws.
- In various novels, characters who grumble often find personal growth or resolution, revealing the complexity of their complaints.
- The motif of grumbling appears in folklore to show the resistance of characters against change or external forces.
Origin of 'grumbling'
Main points about word origin
- The word stems from the Old English 'gromol,' which means to murmur or complain softly.
- It shares roots with similar words in Germanic languages, emphasizing a common history of expressing discontent.
- In Middle English, it evolved to refer specifically to low, muttered complaints.
The word 'grumbling' has its origins in Middle English, where it was used to describe the low, indistinct sound of discontent. It is derived from the Old English word 'grumman', meaning to murmur or mutter in a discontented way. Over time, 'grumbling' has come to represent the act of complaining or expressing dissatisfaction in a low, gruff manner.
Word Frequency Rank
With rank #19,529, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.
- ...
- 19526 infuriated
- 19527 glycerin
- 19528 grunt
- 19529 grumbling
- 19530 unresponsive
- 19531 rimmed
- 19532 excitatory
- ...