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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
Diners might begin with beef carpaccio before moving on to osso buco or one of the kitchen’s housemade pastas, including garganelli and plin. — Ching Dee, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 The beef industry has been dealing with the smallest cattle herd in 75 years due to prolonged droughts. — Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 7 July 2026
Verb
Injuries would be a concern, but this is a beefing-up-the-squad signing. — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 26 May 2026 Country star Kacey Musgraves is currently beefing with a fat internet activist who is mad at her because Walmart doesn't sell any of her newest line of clothing in plus sizes. — Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 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
  • Mozeliak said the Angels should not consider a trade proposal in isolation, without considering how to flex their major-market muscles to fill whatever hole a trade might create.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Livano Comenencia’s equalizer and Dick Advocaat’s emotional reaction were great but this was a muscle flex if there ever was one.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of muscle
Verb
  • Rodriguez said in a May phone interview with the Herald that detainees had been complaining when a guard approached him and told him to walk out of the cage where he and other men were housed.
    — Churchill Ndonwie, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 July 2026
  • At the local level, administrators often complain there is little clarity on what is expected of them and, too often, outright conflict.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026
Definition of complain
Noun
  • Attorneys for the building’s defendants have denied the allegations in court filings and any liability for the accident, and have filed a third-party complaint against the construction company that employed Rojas.
    — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 9 July 2026
  • The lawsuit aims to become a class action and comes after weeks of fierce criticism and complaints from customers regarding the company’s practices.
    — Lily Wright, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Definition of complaint
Noun
  • Whatever ailed this World Cup, the beautiful game was waiting with its healing powers.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 12 July 2026
  • While there is undeniable star power, and an unerring ability to get the job done, England will have opportunities to make a mark of their own.
    — Stuart James, New York Times, 12 July 2026
Definition of power
Verb
  • From the outset of the selloff earlier this year, Jim Cramer was screaming from the rooftops that cyber should never have been lumped into run-of-the-mill enterprise software.
    — Zev Fima, CNBC, 7 July 2026
  • There were no vendors hawking bootleg royal-wedding merch, no screaming lines of fans, not even that many impromptu sing-alongs (some were solicited by journalists looking for content).
    — Zach Schiffman, Curbed, 6 July 2026
Definition of scream
Noun
  • But the grievances and recriminations aren’t limited to last winter or the beginning of Buster Posey’s tenure as president of baseball operations.
    — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 7 July 2026
  • After moving to the States in June, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle appeared ready to air their grievances, starting with a multi-million dollar contract with Netflix.
    — Emma Banks, InStyle, 7 July 2026
Definition of grievance
Noun
  • Our national instincts are for biting our lip and not causing a fuss.
    — Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 14 July 2026
  • Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron This is what all that Lebron to Miami fuss is about on social media, right?
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 9 July 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 15 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on beef

Nglish: Translation of beef for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about beef

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