groaner

UK: /ˈɡrəʊnə/

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

groaner / ˈɡrəʊnə/ noun

1. a person or thing that groans
2. a bad or corny joke or pun

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

groan /groʊn/   n. [countable]

1. a low, mournful sound made in response to pain or grief.
2. a deeper, similar sound made to express contempt, dislike, disapproval, etc.:
   Groans greeted the disappointing announcement.
3. a deep grating or creaking sound due to a continued heavy weight or strain:
   The groan of the timbers in the wind.

v. [no object]

4. to utter a deep, mournful sound that expresses pain or grief;
   moan:
   He groaned from the pain.
5. to make a deep, similar sound to express contempt, dislike, disapproval, etc.:
   The audience groaned at the joke.
6. to make a sound resembling a groan:
   The steps of the old house groaned under my weight.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

groan  (grōn), n. 

1. a low, mournful sound uttered in pain or grief:
   the groans of dying soldiers.
2. a deep, inarticulate sound uttered in derision, disapproval, desire, etc.
3. a deep grating or creaking sound due to a sudden or continued overburdening, as with a great weight:
   We heard the groan of the ropes as the crane lowered the heavy cargo into the ship's hold.

v.i. 

4. to utter a deep, mournful sound expressive of pain or grief.
5. to make a deep, inarticulate sound expressive of derision, disapproval, desire, etc.
6. to make a sound resembling a groan;
   resound harshly:
   The steps of the old house groaned under my weight.
7. to be overburdened or overloaded.
8. to suffer greatly or lamentably:
   groaning under an intolerable burden.

v.t. 

9. to utter or express with groans.

• bef. 900; Middle English gronen, Old English grānian; cognate with German greinen to whine

groan′er, n. 
groan′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. Groan, moan refer to sounds indicating deep suffering. A groan is a brief, strong, deep-throated sound emitted involuntarily under pressure of pain or suffering:
  The wounded man groaned when they lifted him.
  A moan is a prolonged, more or less continuous, low, inarticulate sound indicative of suffering, either physical or mental:
  She was moaning after the operation. She did not weep, but moaned softly.