disgruntle

verb

dis·​grun·​tle dis-ˈgrən-tᵊl How to pronounce disgruntle (audio)
disgruntled; disgruntling dis-ˈgrənt-liŋ How to pronounce disgruntle (audio)
-ˈgrən-tᵊl-iŋ
Synonyms of disgruntlenext

transitive verb

: to make ill-humored or discontented
usually used as a participial adjective
… they were a very disgruntled crew.Flannery O'Connor
angry letters from disgruntled readers
disgruntlement noun

Examples of disgruntle in a Sentence

an employee, disgruntled by the restaurant owner's shabby treatment, turned him in to the IRS a crew disgruntled by a long voyage that provided no opportunity for recreation onshore
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Carew played the side’s disgruntled former star player who coveted the top job himself. Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2026 The Atlanta Hawks reached an agreement Wednesday night to trade Kristaps Porzingis to the Warriors for guard Buddy Hield and disgruntled forward Jonathan Kuminga, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported. Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 5 Feb. 2026 The Spurs are not expected to be major players for the biggest name still (possibly) on the market — Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, who remains an undetermined level of disgruntled with the goings on around the Bucks. Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 4 Feb. 2026 Everybody seems to be disgruntled and defensive. Judith Martin, Mercury News, 22 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for disgruntle

Word History

Etymology

dis- + gruntle to grumble, from Middle English gruntlen, frequentative of grunten to grunt

First Known Use

1682, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of disgruntle was in 1682

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Disgruntle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disgruntle. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

disgruntle

verb
dis·​grun·​tle dis-ˈgrənt-ᵊl How to pronounce disgruntle (audio)
disgruntled; disgruntling -ˈgrənt-liŋ How to pronounce disgruntle (audio)
-ᵊl-iŋ
: to put in a bad mood
disgruntlement noun

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