[syn: grumbling, rumbling]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Grumble \Grum"ble\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Grunbled; p. pr. & vb.
n. Grumbling.] [Cf. LG. grummeln, grumen, D. grommelen,
grommen, and F. grommeler, of German origin; cf. W. grwm,
murmur, grumble, surly. [root]35. Cf. Grum, Grim.]
1. To murmur or mutter with discontent; to make ill-natured
complaints in a low voice and a surly manner.
[1913 Webster]
L'Avare, not using half his store,
Still grumbles that he has no more. --Prior.
[1913 Webster]
2. To growl; to snarl in deep tones; as, a lion grumbling
over his prey.
[1913 Webster]
3. To rumble; to make a low, harsh, and heavy sound; to
mutter; as, the distant thunder grumbles.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
grumbling
adj 1: continuous full and low-pitched throbbing sound; "the
rumbling rolling sound of thunder" [syn: grumbling,
rumbling]
n 1: a loud low dull continuous noise; "they heard the rumbling
of thunder" [syn: rumble, rumbling, grumble,
grumbling]
2: a complaint uttered in a low and indistinct tone [syn:
grumble, grumbling, murmur, murmuring, mutter,
muttering]
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:
88 Moby Thesaurus words for "grumbling":
beef, beefing, bellyache, bellyaching, bitch, bitching, boom,
booming, complaining, complaint, complaintful, crabbing, crabby,
cranky, croaking, destructive criticism, disappointed,
discontented, disgruntled, displeased, dissatisfied, dissent, echo,
envious, faultfinding, grievance, gripe, griping, groan, groaning,
grouchy, grouse, grousing, growl, growling, gruff, grumble,
grumbly, grumpish, grumpy, holler, howl, kick, kicking, malcontent,
malcontented, murmuring, muttering, out of humor, peeve, peevish,
peevishness, pet peeve, petulance, petulant, protest, querulant,
querulous, querulousness, rebellious, reboation, rebound, reecho,
resentful, resound, resounding, restive, restless, reverberation,
rumble, rumbling, scolding, sniping, squawk, squawking, sulky,
thunder, thundering, unaccepting, unaccommodating, uneasy,
unfulfilled, ungratified, unhappy, unsatisfied, whining, whiny,
yapping