as in complaining
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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Recent Examples of beefing
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
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
When the part of Season 2’s Austin came his way, Melton jumped at the chance to play one of the series’ beefing leads.
—
Elaina Patton,
IndieWire,
17 Apr. 2026
Nader’s character Selene is a Zuma Beach lifeguard constantly beefing with new, grown up Hobie Buchanon, played by Stephen Amell.
—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Mar. 2026
Bill Maher and Jimmy Kimmel are beefing.
—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
Smith launched their original Slider sunglasses in 1995, leaning into the nineties silhouette and beefing it up with the first patented dual-lens interchangeable system.
—
Lily Ritter,
Outside,
14 Jan. 2026
Efforts at beefing them up priced them out of existence.
—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
13 Jan. 2026
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
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
When the part of Season 2’s Austin came his way, Melton jumped at the chance to play one of the series’ beefing leads.
—
Elaina Patton,
IndieWire,
17 Apr. 2026
Nader’s character Selene is a Zuma Beach lifeguard constantly beefing with new, grown up Hobie Buchanon, played by Stephen Amell.
—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Mar. 2026
Bill Maher and Jimmy Kimmel are beefing.
—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
Smith launched their original Slider sunglasses in 1995, leaning into the nineties silhouette and beefing it up with the first patented dual-lens interchangeable system.
—
Lily Ritter,
Outside,
14 Jan. 2026
Efforts at beefing them up priced them out of existence.
—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
13 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beefing
Verb
-
At one practice during the fall of 2024, Washington’s assistant athletic director of football academics Diamond Brown was standing on the sideline when Jonah bounded up to her in full pads and begun complaining about his grade in a music class.
-
Indeed, the internet is full of workers complaining about how their jobs have become akin to manning an assembly line.
Verb
-
An open 911 line allowed dispatchers to hear gunshots and people screaming inside the building.
-
But doing grand openings and screaming out loud doesn't resonate with the brand.
Verb
-
Stop whining and complaining, people.
-
Well, certainly a lot of whining about technology.
Cite this Entry
“Beefing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beefing. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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