as in to whine
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
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Recent Examples of complain
Pundits complained last year’s Cannes was a light affair, but that had to do with the bottleneck created by the strikes, for one.
—
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2025
The new plan arrives after many existing Claude subscribers complained of hitting rate limits frequently.
—ArsTechnica, 9 Apr. 2025
Ranchers complain about predation on their herds and city dwellers fear having wolves living too close for comfort.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2025
While speaking at a dinner hosted by the National Republican Congressional Committee on Tuesday, Trump complained over how the U.S. doesn’t manufacturer its own pharmaceuticals stating that tariffs on these products would be forthcoming.
—Joseph Choi, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for complain
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2025
The new plan arrives after many existing Claude subscribers complained of hitting rate limits frequently.
—ArsTechnica, 9 Apr. 2025
Ranchers complain about predation on their herds and city dwellers fear having wolves living too close for comfort.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2025
While speaking at a dinner hosted by the National Republican Congressional Committee on Tuesday, Trump complained over how the U.S. doesn’t manufacturer its own pharmaceuticals stating that tariffs on these products would be forthcoming.
—Joseph Choi, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for complain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complain
Verb
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Maybe if the teen had whined less, viewers wouldn't have yearned to see her get eaten by some Hellmouth beast.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
27 Feb. 2025
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Megan Michelson is an Outside contributing editor who loves long drives, even when her two children are whining in the backseat.—
Megan Michelson,
Outside Online,
26 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The audience screamed in approval for the coming out, as seen in a TikTok from the show.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them.,
24 Apr. 2025
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During his mock intervention with Jason and Danny, Jax says that his father was always yelling and screaming, so was his grandfather.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
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In fact, regulars’ favorite thing to moan about, year after year, is the ever-mounting cost of Carnival fete tickets and costumes.—
Baz Dreisinger,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
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Ramirez said the detectives had found belongings near the storm drain entrance and heard what sounded like a woman moaning from inside the storm drain.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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During a question-and-answer session, shareholders grumbled about everything from the falling share price and feeble dividend of 6 euros versus 14 euros in 2023 to the complicated WiFi login process and historic lack of shareholder gifts.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
24 Apr. 2025
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The set continued for three more songs, but ended on a note of some confusion and widespread grumbling from the audience.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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He is made, late in the show, to feign a seizure in a moment that doesn’t land, and the blocking of his final scene, in which the actor mutters to the ceiling while lying on his back, similarly thuds.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
24 Mar. 2025
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Victoria barely muttered a word to Kate, who approached the Ratliffs during a meal, making the exchange extra awkward.—
Alli Rosenbloom,
CNN Money,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Moran worries that Alvarado, a diabetic breast cancer survivor who suffers from high blood pressure and needs to eat and drink frequently, will have poor access to her medication in detention — or after deportation.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
26 Apr. 2025
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According to Breen’s brother-in-law, Corey Feist, many people worried that any move to take care of their mental health could affect their jobs.—
Christina Ray Stanton,
New York Daily News,
26 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Complain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complain. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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