What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
grumbly
Example
He was grumbly all day, complaining about everything. [grumbly: adjective]
Example
The old car made a grumbly noise as it drove down the road. [grumbly: adjective]
Example
She woke up feeling grumbly and out of sorts. [grumbly: adverb]
grouchy
Example
Don't talk to him when he's grouchy in the morning. [grouchy: adjective]
Example
She's been feeling grouchy all day, snapping at everyone who talks to her. [grouchy: adjective]
Example
He gave a grouchy response when asked about his plans for the weekend. [grouchy: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Grouchy is more commonly used than grumbly in everyday language. Grouchy is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while grumbly is less common and may be considered more informal or colloquial.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between grumbly and grouchy?
Neither grumbly nor grouchy are particularly formal words, but grumbly may be considered more informal or colloquial due to its less common usage.
