grouch

UK: ɡraʊtʃ | US: ɡraʊtʃ

Definition
  1. n. a habitually complaining or irritable person

  2. vi. to complain or grumble persistently

Structure

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Etymology

The word grouch emerged in the late 19th century, likely as a variant of the obsolete verb grutch (meaning "to grumble"), which itself derived from Old French groucher or groucier. Its evolution reflects a phonetic shift and semantic narrowing to describe a persistently irritable person or act of complaining. The word’s onomatopoeic quality mimics the sound of grumbling, reinforcing its meaning.

Examples
  1. He’s such a grouch in the mornings before his coffee.

  2. Don’t grouch about the weather—it’s out of our control.

  3. The old man earned a reputation as the neighborhood grouch.

  4. She tends to grouch when things don’t go her way.

  5. Despite his grouching, he secretly enjoyed the outing.