adjective
grouchy
GROWT-shee
Grouchy (adjective) means Easily irritated and inclined to complain. Example: “He gets grouchy if he doesn't get his morning coffee.”
adjective
1
Easily irritated and inclined to complain.
"In Berlin I once heard Susie Clemens—ill-fated, talented girl, who died so young—say to her father: "Grouchy again! They do say that you can be funny when company is around—too bad that you don't consider Henry Fisher company.""
— Henry William Fischer, Author's Preface (1922)
"He went in to mumble that he was "sorry, didn't mean to be grouchy," and to inquire as to her interest in movies."
— Sinclair Lewis (1922)
"His boss gets grouchy when deadlines draw near."
"He gets grouchy if he doesn't get his morning coffee."
How to use grouchy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishIn a bad, irritable mood, often complaining about small things.
Common pairings
feel grouchy
a grouchy mood
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Word forms
- Comparative
- grouchier
- Superlative
- grouchiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He gets _____ if he doesn't get his morning coffee.
Etymology
From grouch plus "-y," first recorded around 1895 as American college slang.
Class of 1895
grouchy joined the language around 1895.
See the full Class of 1895 →
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for grouchy
See all rhymes for grouchy →Frequently asked questions
What does “grouchy” mean?
The word “grouchy” means easily irritated and inclined to complain. In plain terms, in a bad, irritable mood, often complaining about small things.
How do you pronounce “grouchy”?
“Grouchy” is pronounced GROWT-shee (/ˈɡɹaʊt͡ʃi/ in IPA).
How do you use “grouchy” in a sentence?
Here is “grouchy” used in a sentence: “He gets grouchy if he doesn't get his morning coffee.”
What part of speech is “grouchy”?
“Grouchy” is an adjective.
Where does the word “grouchy” come from?
The word “grouchy” dates back to around 1895. From grouch plus "-y," first recorded around 1895 as American college slang.
