as in to scream
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
the time-honored tradition of new recruits complaining about the food in the mess hall
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of complain
Now in the possession of Kelly Kilpatrick (Cherry Jones), Deborah, dragging a complaining Ava with her as a kind of opposite beard, decides to con Kilpatrick and her wife Monica (Leslie Bibb).
—
Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
Ticket prices were too high, causing season ticket holders to complain about being unable to sell their seats, and the A’s did little to adopt Sacramento as its permanent home.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 30 May 2026
Barca complained about the refereeing when Atletico won the first leg at the Camp Nou, and then denounced the state of the Metropolitano pitch to UEFA ahead of the return.
—Ali Rampling, New York Times, 29 May 2026
A lot of players had complained about Giguère’s equipment, but would not go on the record with it.
—Mac Engel
may 29, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for complain
Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
Ticket prices were too high, causing season ticket holders to complain about being unable to sell their seats, and the A’s did little to adopt Sacramento as its permanent home.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 30 May 2026
Barca complained about the refereeing when Atletico won the first leg at the Camp Nou, and then denounced the state of the Metropolitano pitch to UEFA ahead of the return.
—Ali Rampling, New York Times, 29 May 2026
A lot of players had complained about Giguère’s equipment, but would not go on the record with it.
—Mac Engel
may 29, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for complain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complain
Verb
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On the witness stand, the teenager was reportedly combative and flustered by Jackson’s attorney Tom Mesereau, who attempted to poke holes in Gavin’s testimony and allegedly screamed at the boy throughout.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
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Jay practically embarrassed Mase, then a pop rapper at Bad Boy Records, not by screaming but by sounding amused.—
Jayson Buford,
Rolling Stone,
3 June 2026
Verb
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These plays all scratch the same exact itch of, say, watching Bachelorette hunks get hooked up to a lie detector or watching Mike White whine about the lack of fine cuisine on Survivor.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
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And how about the Liberty players and coaches whining about it?—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
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And yes, that sound will dissipate and soon will be too faint for my human ears as it is absorbed into space, but Renee Gladman writes that spaces moan.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
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The process left Carruthers bleeding and moaning on May 21, according to the witness, Maria DeLiberato, senior counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union's Capital Punishment Project.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
Verb
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Hippos grunt and grumble in the shallows, crocodiles sunbathe on sandbanks, elephants appear along the banks, while fish eagles call overhead as sunset approaches.—
Sarah Kingdom,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2026
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Fan and player discontent (as suggested by so many squad members apparently endorsing Salah’s recent social-media post grumbling about the team’s style of play), coupled with a failure to achieve the bare-minimum requirement this season, would surely make Slot’s position untenable.—
Gregg Evans,
New York Times,
20 May 2026
Verb
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An edgy confrontation The Rangers were still seething as Keenan attempted to address the team following a demoralizing 3-1 loss, with a few snapping back or muttering under their breath.—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
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On Tuesday, cameras caught Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing muttering something after looking back at the Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee, who was in discomfort after an awkward slide at home plate.—
Bill Shaikin,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Considering its reputation and its placement on the World’s Best List, the clientele tends to be very international so those who don’t speak French need not worry.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 June 2026
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Many of his fellow Republicans might find his campaign, as outlined to a reporter Wednesday, to be worrying on closer examination.—
Mathew Miranda,
Sacbee.com,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complain. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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