grumpy
- 01 B1 Intermediate
adj.unhappy and easily annoyed, often because you are tired or hungry.
adj.irritable, surly, or ill-tempered; often used to describe a temporary mood rather than a permanent character trait.
Simple“He is always a bit grumpy in the morning before he has his coffee.”
In context“The long flight and lack of sleep left the entire tour group feeling grumpy and less than enthusiastic about the first day's itinerary.”
UsageCommonly used with the verb 'to be' or 'to feel'.
- 02 C2 Proficiency
n.a person who is often in a bad mood or complains a lot.
n.a person who is habitually or currently irritable and dissatisfied.
Simple“Don't be such a grumpy; come and join the party.”
In context“The old man was known as the neighborhood grumpy, though he occasionally surprised the local children with sweets.”
Teacher's tipThe noun form is much less common than the adjective; learners should focus on the adjective 'grumpy' for everyday use.
Synonymsgrouchcurmudgeon
From grump + -y.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.