complain

verb

kəm-ˈplān How to pronounce complain (audio)
Definition of complainnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 complain Many complained about tariffs and forced labor investigations and EPR. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 2 Nov. 2026 Right now, protesters in France are complaining about crumbling schools, the lack of teachers, and the overall high cost of living. — Erika Beras, NPR, 31 Oct. 2026 Kenya’s global athletics icons, including 1500m world-record holder Faith Kipyegon, have complained over the poor state of training facilities across the country. — Martin K.n Siele, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 2026 The real Russo complained, but in the end, Kennedy took more votes in the 1946 race than the Russos combined. — Drew Kurlowski, The Conversation, 30 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for complain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complain
  1. scream
  2. whine
  3. moan
  4. grumble
  5. mutter
  6. worry
Verb
  • Upon arriving at Bottiglierivega's door, a police sergeant heard screaming and spotted blood nearby.
    — Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Officers arrived at the scene and found people screaming as a man was lying in the street, suffering from gunshot wounds.
    — Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of scream
Verb
  • Just thank God you were born female and stop whining over your bad choices.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Unlike last year when Texas coach Steve Sarkisian whined about his non-conference schedule, his main complaint this year will be his conference schedule.
    — Mac Engel October 25, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of whine
Verb
  • It's been a big few months for Austin Abrams moaning and groaning his way through some of the worst situations imaginable.
    — Megan McCluskey, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
  • For a cold moment the silence locked a grip on our table, though it was broken, at the edges, by the golf commentators moaning and harrumphing, Rory McIlroy having had a canary on a seventeenth fairway somewhere this championship Sunday.
    — Kevin Barry, New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of moan
Verb
  • Throughout the recording, Taylor makes dramatic leaps from grumbling rhythms in his piano’s lower register and dizzying runs in its upper reaches.
    — Levi Dayan, Pitchfork, 3 Nov. 2026
  • The documentary premiered on the BBC first, which is how American embassy workers and journalists based in the UK got a look at the film — and started grumbling.
    — Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of grumble
Verb
  • The only thing left in the field was a distraught college kid, pacing back and forth, muttering to himself, and suffering over what might have been.
    — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The camera then cut to McCarthy, who muttered a profanity in response.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of mutter
Verb
  • That forced Edmonds and former Horned Frog David Punch (now at Texas) to play lengthy minutes and have to worry about foul trouble.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Still, Nowinski is worried the Guardian Cap is giving parents and athletes a false sense of security that the game has been made considerably safer.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of worry

Browse Nearby Words

complacent
complain
complainant
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Complain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complain. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

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