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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of beefing
For an artist who spent the first half of the year beefing with paparazzi, his team, and possibly also his long-suffering wife, Bieber might actually, really, finally be back.
—
Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
Democrats and Republicans can't agree on spending measures that would pay federal workers and save safety-net programs from running out of money — while GOP lawmakers are beefing over beef imports.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
Grocery behemoth Trader Joe’s and jam giant Smucker are beefing right now.
—Li Goldstein, Bon Appetit Magazine, 25 Oct. 2025
Injuries would be a concern, but this is a beefing-up-the-squad signing.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Zach Bryan has pledged to never perform in Kansas City again after once again beefing with Chiefs fans on social media.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 10 Aug. 2025
Somebody that’s just a walking movie, ’cause even the managers be over there beefing.
—Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 5 Aug. 2025
Lyfe Jennings is beefing with Muni Long.
—Mya Abraham, VIBE.com, 3 Sep. 2019
Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
Democrats and Republicans can't agree on spending measures that would pay federal workers and save safety-net programs from running out of money — while GOP lawmakers are beefing over beef imports.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
Grocery behemoth Trader Joe’s and jam giant Smucker are beefing right now.
—Li Goldstein, Bon Appetit Magazine, 25 Oct. 2025
Injuries would be a concern, but this is a beefing-up-the-squad signing.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Zach Bryan has pledged to never perform in Kansas City again after once again beefing with Chiefs fans on social media.
—Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 10 Aug. 2025
Somebody that’s just a walking movie, ’cause even the managers be over there beefing.
—Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 5 Aug. 2025
Lyfe Jennings is beefing with Muni Long.
—Mya Abraham, VIBE.com, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beefing
Verb
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But Frederica Wilson, a Democratic congresswoman from South Florida, vividly remembers her constituents complaining about one Facebook ad in particular.—
David Smiley,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
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About 20% of fire department employees responded to the survey, with large majorities of those respondents complaining about discrimination, diversity and inclusion programs and a wide range of organizational issues.—
Aaron Valdez,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Agents appear to fight off a screaming crowd trying to help the man by pushing them away and threatening them with pepper spray.—
Zoe Sottile,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
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There’s nothing like stepping onto the ice with thousands of screaming school children on top of you after an early-morning bus ride to play in an early-morning game to remind you’re in the AHL rather than the NHL.—
Scott Powers,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Chip heeled tight to my left, his ears laid back, whining softly.—
Joel M. Vance,
Outdoor Life,
29 Oct. 2025
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Marcus poked out his bottom lip, but no whining this time.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Beefing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beefing. Accessed 18 Nov. 2025.
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