grumblingly
In muttered protest
In a grumbling manner—complaining or muttering with discontent while still going along: She grumblingly agreed to help with the move.
The word captures reluctant compliance paired with audible dissatisfaction.
Quiet, unclear speech
- complainingExpressing discontent verbally
- grousingHabitual petty complaining
- gripingVoicing persistent complaints
- whiningProlonged nasal complaining
groaning · moaning · grouching · kvetching · bellyaching · carping · fussing · protesting
Without wanting to
- begrudginglyWith unwilling acceptance
- grudginglyWith reluctant compliance
- reluctantlyWith obvious unwillingness
- resentfullyWith bitter indignation
halfheartedly · unenthusiastically · resistantly · hesitantly · draggingly · demurringly · disobligingly · uncooperatively
In a peevish way
- testilyIn irritated manner
- peevishlyWith fretful irritation
- crosslyIn an irritated manner
- grouchilyIn an ill-tempered manner
crabbily · snappishly · curtly · brusquely · irascibly · cantankerously · petulantly · waspishly
Spoken very quietly
- inaudiblyBeyond perception by ear
- indistinctlyIn an unclear manner
- unintelligiblyBeyond ability to comprehend
- low-voicedSpeaking softly, deeply
muttering
Quiet, unclear speech
- complainingExpressing discontent verbally
- grousingHabitual petty complaining
- gripingVoicing persistent complaints
whining · groaning · moaning · grouching · kvetching · bellyaching · carping · fussing · protesting · objecting
unwillingly
Without wanting to
- begrudginglyWith unwilling acceptance
- grudginglyWith reluctant compliance
- reluctantlyWith obvious unwillingness
resentfully · halfheartedly · unenthusiastically · resistantly · hesitantly · draggingly · demurringly · disobligingly · uncooperatively · sulkily
crankily
In a peevish way
grouchily · crabbily · snappishly · curtly · brusquely · irascibly · cantankerously · petulantly · waspishly · querulously
under one's breath
Spoken very quietly
- inaudiblyBeyond perception by ear
- indistinctlyIn an unclear manner
- unintelligiblyBeyond ability to comprehend
grumblinglywillingly
By free choice
eagerly · enthusiastically · gladly · readily · graciously