grumbling
Low, irritated complaining
Grumbling is complaining in a low, muttering way—not quite loud enough to be a protest, not quite quiet enough to go unnoticed.
The word captures both the sound and the attitude: There was grumbling among the staff about the new policy.
A grumbling stomach makes rumbling noises from hunger or indigestion.
As an adjective, grumbling describes something persistent and low-grade: a grumbling discontent, grumbling appendicitis.
Prolonged nasal complaining
- moaningProlonged sound of distress
- kvetchingChronic petty complaining
- gripingVoicing persistent complaints
- grousingHabitual petty complaining
carping · bellyaching · fussing · nagging · whingeing · muttering · groaning · lamenting
Quiet, unclear speech
- mumblingIndistinct, quiet speech
- undertoneSubdued background quality
- lowNot elevated
- sotto voceIn an undertone
State of public disturbance
- dissatisfactionState of being displeased
- disaffectionLoss of loyalty
- resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
- displeasureMild anger or disapproval
disquiet · indignation · disapproval · malcontent · disgruntlement · murmuring · mutinous · restiveness
Low rolling sound
- growlingDeep threatening vocalization
- gurglingBubbling liquid sound
- churningAgitated circular motion
- thunderingProducing deep, loud sound
rolling · booming · reverberating · stomach · intestinal · belly · digestive · hunger
whining
Prolonged nasal complaining
- moaningProlonged sound of distress
- kvetchingChronic petty complaining
- gripingVoicing persistent complaints
grousing · carping · bellyaching · fussing · nagging · whingeing · muttering · groaning · lamenting · bemoaning
muttering
Quiet, unclear speech
sotto voce · inaudible · half-heard · indistinct · unintelligible
unrest
State of public disturbance
- dissatisfactionState of being displeased
- disaffectionLoss of loyalty
- resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
displeasure · disquiet · indignation · disapproval · malcontent · disgruntlement · murmuring · mutinous · restiveness · seething
rumbling
Low rolling sound
thundering · rolling · booming · reverberating · stomach · intestinal · belly · digestive · hunger · tummy
- audience reactionsapplause, clapping, booing, cheering, laughter
- discontentdissatisfaction, displeasure, discontentment, unhappiness, frustration
- gripingcomplaining, griping, grousing, kvetching, moaning
- Stomach Sensationshunger, nausea, fullness, cramps, bloating
- grumpinessgrumpiness, crankiness, moodiness, sullenness, grouchiness
- passive aggressionsilent treatment, backhanded compliments, backhanded compliment, cold shoulder, eye rolling
grumblingpraising
Voicing admiration
complimenting · cheering · applauding · thanking · extolling