sour grapes
plural noun
: disparagement of something that has proven unattainable
his criticisms are just sour grapes
Examples of sour grapes in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Yesterday, when asked about Musk’s criticism--which could sink the entire bill, if enough Senate Republicans like Ron Johnson and their constituents turn against it--the president chalked it up to sour grapes over the bill’s failure to extend EV tax credits.
—
Kelly Evans, CNBC, 6 June 2025
Conservatives who argue that President Joe Biden politicized the military by focusing on climate change and by advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion measures call these concerns, on the heels of Mr. Trump’s firings, sour grapes.
—Anna Mulrine Grobe, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Mar. 2025
But Eagles Coach Nick Sirianni and others say the move to bar the shove has the whiff of sour grapes.
—Victor Mather, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025
The success gap between them prompted some to see Ebeling’s Instagram post as sour grapes.
—E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for sour grapes
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Kelly Evans, CNBC, 6 June 2025
Conservatives who argue that President Joe Biden politicized the military by focusing on climate change and by advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion measures call these concerns, on the heels of Mr. Trump’s firings, sour grapes.
—Anna Mulrine Grobe, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 Mar. 2025
But Eagles Coach Nick Sirianni and others say the move to bar the shove has the whiff of sour grapes.
—Victor Mather, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025
The success gap between them prompted some to see Ebeling’s Instagram post as sour grapes.
—E. Alex Jung, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for sour grapes
Cite this Entry
“Sour grapes.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sour%20grapes. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share