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
Many are complaining about their local property tax.
—
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026
There, employees of a grocery store called 9-1-1 to complain about a young woman who was repeatedly asking people for money.
—Logan Smith, CBS News, 14 Mar. 2026
Jen has been complaining to Zac that Whitney only pretends to be her friend on camera.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2026
Parents have complained of poor conditions at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center.
—Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for complain
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026
There, employees of a grocery store called 9-1-1 to complain about a young woman who was repeatedly asking people for money.
—Logan Smith, CBS News, 14 Mar. 2026
Jen has been complaining to Zac that Whitney only pretends to be her friend on camera.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2026
Parents have complained of poor conditions at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center.
—Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for complain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complain
Verb
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The cover art shows Robyn screaming and topless.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
11 Mar. 2026
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One fan’s decision to belt out power ballads instead of just screaming during Stanford’s free throws at the ACC Tournament has turned into the most shareable fan moment heading into March Madness.—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Somewhere in the next hour after the field is announced, there will be contemplation and whining about the specter of the NCAA growing its postseason field, most likely to 76 teams.—
Mac Engel
March 10,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Mar. 2026
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Ellie stomps back to the crew mess to whine about it to Jenna and Ben.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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One minute later, Pedro Neto was yellow-carded for moaning.—
Matt Slater,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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The Freight House building creaks and moans underfoot, and passing trains produce little more than a subtle hum.—
Nicole Letts,
Southern Living,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Dallas stumbled, fumbled and grumbled its way to a 122-92 loss, which was somehow not its most lopsided game of the season.—
Mike Curtis,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Mar. 2026
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My gut, which is enormously large, grumbles that coach Ime Udoka may want to continue trotting out length and size when everyone’s healthy, which would relegate Sheppard back to a reserve role.—
Stan Son,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In fact, the director was egging me on, encouraging me to go further with the hunching and muttering.—
Andrew Martin,
Vogue,
9 Mar. 2026
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Old friend Daniel Vladar was spectacular in making 26 saves, several of which had Morgan Geekie (nine total shots, five on net, two blocked, two misses) muttering to himself.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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For the first time, there appears to be a commitment that Foxboro will incur no cost and will not have to worry about reimbursement processes.—
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
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Don’t worry—there’s something for every type of traveler.—
Payton Turkeltaub,
Vogue,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complain. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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