What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
grouse
Example
My uncle loves to hunt grouse in the woods. [grouse: noun]
Example
She always seems to be grousing about something, it's really irritating. [grousing: gerund or present participle]
grumble
Example
He grumbled about the cold weather as he put on his coat. [grumbled: verb]
Example
The distant grumble of thunder warned of an approaching storm. [grumble: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Grumble is more commonly used than grouse in everyday language. Grumble is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while grouse is less common and refers to a specific type of complaining or annoyance.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between grouse and grumble?
Both grouse and grumble are informal words that are not typically used in formal contexts.