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Grumble vs Surly - What's the difference?

grumble | surly |

As a noun grumble

is (onomatopoeia) a low thundering, rumbling or growling sound.

As a verb grumble

is to make a low, growling or rumbling noise, like a hungry stomach or certain animals.

As an adjective surly is

(obsolete) lordly, arrogant, supercilious.

As an adverb surly is

(obsolete) in an arrogant or supercilious manner.

grumble

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • (onomatopoeia) A low thundering, rumbling or growling sound.
  • The sound made by a hungry stomach.
  • A complaint.
  • That whiner is never without a grumble to share.

    Derived terms

    * grumbly

    Verb

    (grumbl)
  • To make a low, growling or rumbling noise, like a hungry stomach or certain animals.
  • The distant thunder grumbles .
  • * {{quote-book
  • , year=1995 , author=Terry C. Johnston , title=Dance on the Wind , page=15 , passage=It made his stomach grumble in protest to think the mule was eating, and here he was worrying about her with an empty belly of his own.}}
  • To complain; to murmur or mutter with discontent; to make ill-natured complaints in a low voice and a surly manner.
  • He grumbles about the food constantly, but has yet to learn to cook.
  • To utter in a grumbling fashion.
  • * 2001 , Harry Willcox Pfanz, Gettysburg — the first day?
  • He grumbled that there was no grain "in the country" and that people were talking instead of working to provide it.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * grumbler

    See also

    * rumble English reporting verbs

    surly

    English

    Adjective

    (er)
  • (obsolete) Lordly, arrogant, supercilious.
  • Irritated, bad-tempered, unfriendly.
  • Threatening, menacing, gloomy.
  • The surly weather put us all in a bad mood.

    Adverb

    (er)
  • (obsolete) In an arrogant or supercilious manner.
  • * 1623 , , Julius Caesar , I.iii,
  • Against the Capitol I met a lion / Who glazed upon me, and went surly