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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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
Whisk in sugar, soy sauce, beef base, 1 cup of the water, and 3 tablespoons of the vinegar. — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 2 Sep. 2026 Alpha-gal syndrome occurs when a tick bite triggers an immune reaction to a molecule called galactose-α-1,3-galactose (long for alpha-gal) that’s found in food products like beef, pork, dairy, and, separately, tick saliva. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 2 Sep. 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
  • 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
  • Meanwhile top women’s seed Aryna Sabalenka complained when the smell of marijuana wafted from crowd to court.
    — Greg Cote September 6, Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Influencers, along with other fans, have interrupted matches and top player Aryna Sabalenka complained about the smell of marijuana during a match.
    — Douglas Robson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of complain
Noun
  • The singer’s complaint seeks a jury trial and compensatory damages of over $75,000.
    — Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026
  • When reached for comment on LeVota’s letter, which The Star obtained this week, Garza’s attorney Brianne Thomas called it an act of retaliation and provided a copy of Garza’s complaint to The Star.
    — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 2 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's a 50% chance the drivers in this photo are screaming.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Baltimore is an even 69-69 after Cowser’s heroics, and though that record doesn’t usually scream postseason bound at this time of year, the American League hasn’t been as strong as years past.
    — Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 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 10 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on beef

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about beef

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