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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Recent Examples of complain
According to the results, over 50% of those surveyed complained of dwindling motivation at work and little to no ambition to climb the career ladder.
—
Glamour, 24 Apr. 2026
Doctors and nurses have complained bitterly about the situation, which forces them to provide inadequate care.
—Elisabeth Rosenthal, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Or, regulators could complain that some donations were not used for tax-exempt purposes.
—Beth Gazley, The Conversation, 24 Apr. 2026
Republicans complained that the original provision left municipal officials with no way to verify if voters signed up for permanent voting by mail still lived in their communities.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for complain
Glamour, 24 Apr. 2026
Doctors and nurses have complained bitterly about the situation, which forces them to provide inadequate care.
—Elisabeth Rosenthal, Miami Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Or, regulators could complain that some donations were not used for tax-exempt purposes.
—Beth Gazley, The Conversation, 24 Apr. 2026
Republicans complained that the original provision left municipal officials with no way to verify if voters signed up for permanent voting by mail still lived in their communities.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for complain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complain
Verb
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One resident wakes up to a hooded stranger preparing to stab her and silently points them to her sleeping husband rather than scream.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
29 Apr. 2026
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On the bright side for Smith, he's still getting paid millions to scream into a camera and show up courtside to stir drama.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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All this in an environment where politicians like Jeff Bridges (running for state treasurer who lives in the Cherry Creek school district) whine and snivel about his associates in the teachers’ union not having the funds to effectively teach our kids.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
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Seattle families deal with this all the time, and the city is packed with indoor options that will keep your crew happy — no need to endure whining.—
Lauren Schuster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The score by Joseph Bishara is shivery with chorales that moan like wraiths in the wind.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
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On the British side of the Pond, however, no government has dared to do worse things to the BBC than moan about it.—
Max Hastings,
Twin Cities,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But many questions went unanswered, frustrating many murmuring and grumbling attendees.—
Ryan Gillespie,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
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La Dame’s prices make some cruisers grumble, but this spot is a revelation.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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
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The scent of vinegar fills the set, and a crew member wanders by muttering about dyeing Easter eggs.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That worries Thomas Johnson, a Black voter in New Orleans who was at the state Capitol to lobby on unrelated legislation Wednesday when the Supreme Court ruling came down.—
Nicholas Riccardi,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
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When Arakas was arrested, Bon neww worried that the police might have accessed the Estonian’s BlackBerry.—
Ed Caesar,
New Yorker,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complain. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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