as in to whine
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
the time-honored tradition of new recruits complaining about the food in the mess hall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of complain
Cast your mind back to the Chelsea game and Liverpool could not complain that the sequence from Estevao’s winner was not coming.
—
Mark Carey, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
As Kalshi has complained in court of the potential costs associated with geolocation, the company has flashed its cash elsewhere.
—Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2025
So, instead of everyone complaining, how about for, say, the first month after the fees go into effect, no city or county residents use the park?
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Oct. 2025
But users were now complaining that the new model sounded like a robot.
—Vauhini Vara, The Atlantic, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for complain
Mark Carey, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
As Kalshi has complained in court of the potential costs associated with geolocation, the company has flashed its cash elsewhere.
—Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2025
So, instead of everyone complaining, how about for, say, the first month after the fees go into effect, no city or county residents use the park?
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Oct. 2025
But users were now complaining that the new model sounded like a robot.
—Vauhini Vara, The Atlantic, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for complain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complain
Verb
-
The floor buffers come out, whining like jet engines in the hallways, erasing over a month’s worth of shoe scuffs that made the place look like the dasher boards at the hockey rink.—
Mark Glende,
Twin Cities,
15 Oct. 2025
-
While there is anecdotal evidence that suggests dogs display addictive-like behaviors towards their toys, such as whining if a toy is out of reach or playing despite being injured, this study put it to the test.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
There are up to 20,000 rabid people raining down their emotions from all angles, a dozen sticks clattering, two dozen skates carving, all those burly bodies bumping into each other and banging into the boards, plus an endless stream of screaming and grunting and cursing.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
-
The professional chef, who had never smelled her own feet before, screamed as Barrymore picked up her foot and gave it a sniff.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Shannon moans right about the time Jenn walks out to see what the commotion is all about.—
Peter Larsen,
Oc Register,
10 Oct. 2025
-
There’s something moaning in the background.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Employees grumble over who gets to park where and how offices were allocated (or who got an office with walls in the first place), exposing deep resentments about favoritism, status, and fairness.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
12 Oct. 2025
-
This year, quarterback Jalen Hurts hasn’t been able to make up for the lack of yards on the ground with a downfield attack, leading to some public grumbling from his receivers.—
Rohan Nadkarni,
NBC news,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But the other 3%, often muttered by students prospectively examining transfer applications, is distinct.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Your dad mutters for head movement, for cage cutting, for not playing off the back and creating distance.—
Matthew Shen Goodman,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Grieving Vince, worrying about Bode, and taking care of her Cal Fire family is a lot to balance.—
Alamin Yohannes,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Amawi worried about the risk of refeeding syndrome.—
Clayton Dalton,
New Yorker,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Complain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complain. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share