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 Players on both the men’s ATP and women’s WTA tours have long complained of the hectic playing schedule and called for reforms to ease the workload. — Will Barker, TheWeek, 17 Aug. 2026 Nearly all of them complained of teenagers on speedy electric bikes. — Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 17 Aug. 2026 Fans also complained about traffic, the size of the scoreboards and the audio. — Tim Graham, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026 Frustrated homeowners complained to city leaders for years and got nowhere. — Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 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
  • As All In Build Continues Part of the explanation is that the inflation side of the mandate has been screaming louder.
    — Jason Kirsch, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The audience screams in response, and Scovel scolds them again but this time with a smile.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of scream
Verb
  • The epic whining heard across MLB over the Tarik Skubal acquisition is evidence Andrew Friedman and Dodgers management are a masterclass in demonstrating creative leadership to cultivate a winning ballclub.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The fact that a prominent world leader has been desperately hoping (some might say whining) for a Nobel Peace Prize is not lost on Bang.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of whine
Verb
  • After the guards left, the man continued to moan; his cellmates called for a doctor.
    — Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
  • As school starts again, some kids will moan and groan to their parents about the end of summer.
    — Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of moan
Verb
  • There was, unshockingly, grumbling around several of these expansions, too.
    — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 17 Aug. 2026
  • There was a parade, and the masses grumbled over the faint legitimacy of the ordeal.
    — Noah White, Miami Herald, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of grumble
Verb
  • That’s when Way mutters the p-word — under his breath for plausible deniability, but certainly still with the intention of being heard, smirking at the sound of my laughter.
    — Selome Hailu, Variety, 18 Aug. 2026
  • This was 1872, and the pious (and patronizing) commentators of the time muttered that Damien’s unvarnished personality was due to his simple farm upbringing in rural Belgium.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 July 2026
Definition of mutter
Verb
  • Hospices, good and bad, worry about their bottom lines and Medicare's fraud audits.
    — Kim Clark, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • But that’s left some observers worried Disney wasn’t bringing in enough summertime visitors.
    — Natasha Chen, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 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 19 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of complain for Spanish Speakers

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