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beef 1 of 2

noun

ˈbēf How to pronounce beef (audio)
Definition of beefnext
1
as in whine
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment had to deal with an angry customer with a beef about our service

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in muscle
muscular strength a heavyweight wrestler with a good deal of beef

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beef

2 of 2

verb

as in to complain
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely he tends to stand around and beef for hours about any slight, real or imagined

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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 beef
Noun
Dad forked a bite of roast beef, eyed it, then shoved it in his mouth. — Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026 Today, the operation encompasses about 4,100 acres, Thomas told Fox News, and raises hundreds of cattle, with an increasing focus on Wagyu beef. — Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 9 Sep. 2026
Verb
Hours after the final bout, he’s scheduled to jet off to the G7 summit in the French Alps for talks with several world leaders he’s been beefing with over war and tariffs. — Aamer Madhani, Fortune, 12 June 2026 Injuries would be a concern, but this is a beefing-up-the-squad signing. — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 26 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for beef
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beef
  1. whine
  2. muscle
  3. complain
  4. complaint
  5. power
  6. scream
  7. grievance
  8. fuss
Noun
  • Meanwhile, turbo noise fills the cabin alongside the odd electric motor whine.
    — Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • That is, until you are subjected to the relentless whine of mosquitoes.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 30 June 2026
Definition of whine
Noun
  • That’s where cognition becomes impaired, muscle contraction becomes impaired, and metabolism actually slows.
    — Patrick Iversen, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • This might sound simple, but deep breathing delivers oxygen to our muscles, which helps elicit the body’s relaxation response.
    — Juli Fraga, CNBC, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of muscle
Verb
  • Well of course weren’t going to complain about getting to see Reba!
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Karen Khachanov complained about it after Zverev beat him in the semifinals.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of complain
Noun
  • The Wisconsin Elections Commission referred two complaints to the Brown County district attorney's office, paving the way for prosecutors to decide if Musk should be charged.
    — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The lawsuit is a class-action complaint that seeks to represent Amazon workers throughout the US.
    — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of complaint
Noun
  • But The Debut grows to become something altogether wilder, a fire-breathing encomium to the reality-altering power of acting.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Singapore is leveraging its scarce land, energy, and population to bolster its regulatory and agenda-setting power over data centers and sustainability.
    — Brian Wong, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of power
Verb
  • There were hugs and high fives, and jubilant screams from a winning locker room could be heard clearly in the adjacent news conference room and by anyone walking through the hallway.
    — Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Kolb also pushed another protester who was screaming about getting wool off the runway, covering the protester’s mouth and pulling a banner out of his hands, until he was escorted out.
    — Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 13 Sep. 2026
Definition of scream
Noun
  • The notion is that only those with a real stake in the dispute, not a generalized grievance, have the right to a hearing.
    — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Food price spikes can also exacerbate grievances and lead to riots that destabilize governments; anger over hunger, for example, set the conditions for the Arab Spring protests.
    — Anna Nelson, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of grievance
Noun
  • The Amalfi Coast has become something of a cliché, but this reminds you what all the fuss was about in the first place.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Caicedo has been super low-key, taking every opportunity to voice his commitment to Chelsea when asked about his future and signing a new contract with minimal fuss last season.
    — Simon Johnson, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of fuss

Phrases Containing beef

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bee's knees
beef
beefcake
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Cite this Entry

“Beef.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beef. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on beef

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about beef

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