as in screamed
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
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Recent Examples of complained
For years, people who lived just outside the urban center of Boca Raton complained to each other about the massive new buildings going up all around Palmetto Park Boulevard and Mizner Park, but these conversations always ended with the same sense of helplessness.
—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2026
By 2015, the big three credit bureaus had become the most complained about firms in the agency’s complaint system.
—Joel Jacobs, CNN Money, 11 Mar. 2026
Mayor Wendy Bucknum had complained about the state’s housing mandates, but ultimately voted for the project.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 11 Mar. 2026
Policyholders complained of dramatic rate increases, often exceeding 50% and, for a few dozen people, as high as 174%, according to a CT Mirror analysis.
—Jenna Carlesso, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2026
The man also complained of pain in his hands and thumbs.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 10 Mar. 2026
People complained when the tournament expanded from 32 to 64 in 1985.
—Mac Engel
march 10, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Mar. 2026
Several council members have complained they’ve been left out of key discussions about one of the city’s most consequential decisions, whether to repair the building or relocate entirely.
—Devyani Chhetri, Dallas Morning News, 9 Mar. 2026
Opponents have complained about the lack of transparency and said the deployment would instead escalate tension and make the missiles the target of attacks.
—Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 Mar. 2026
By 2015, the big three credit bureaus had become the most complained about firms in the agency’s complaint system.
—Joel Jacobs, CNN Money, 11 Mar. 2026
Mayor Wendy Bucknum had complained about the state’s housing mandates, but ultimately voted for the project.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 11 Mar. 2026
Policyholders complained of dramatic rate increases, often exceeding 50% and, for a few dozen people, as high as 174%, according to a CT Mirror analysis.
—Jenna Carlesso, Hartford Courant, 10 Mar. 2026
The man also complained of pain in his hands and thumbs.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 10 Mar. 2026
People complained when the tournament expanded from 32 to 64 in 1985.
—Mac Engel
march 10, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Mar. 2026
Several council members have complained they’ve been left out of key discussions about one of the city’s most consequential decisions, whether to repair the building or relocate entirely.
—Devyani Chhetri, Dallas Morning News, 9 Mar. 2026
Opponents have complained about the lack of transparency and said the deployment would instead escalate tension and make the missiles the target of attacks.
—Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complained
Verb
-
Plenty of kids screamed and threw up heart signs in the crowd as Ejae, Nuna, and Ami hit the chorus’ high note.—
Walden Green,
Pitchfork,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Coach Travis Steele screamed at the officials at halftime, knocking over a speaker on his way off the court and picking up a technical foul.—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The children jumped for joy after winning a game of cornhole; others fell and whined in defeat, but got up to play again.—
Christopher Buchanan,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Chip whined and nuzzled at my hand.—
Joel M. Vance,
Outdoor Life,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Critics moaned when the CFP committee picked the Hurricanes over Notre Dame as the last Power 4 entry into the playoffs.—
Chris Hays,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Strapped to a stretcher in the back of an ambulance, the shooting victim moaned, then screamed.—
Lauren Caruba,
Dallas Morning News,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As for one consistent complaint heard muttered amid bleary-eyed guests of the former Standard, Schrager confirms the appropriate adjustments have been made.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Nov. 2025
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But the other 3%, often muttered by students prospectively examining transfer applications, is distinct.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Trump has grumbled about the pace of implementation of a similar deal with South Korea, a key competitor with Japan on auto manufacturing, and threatened to increase tariffs once again.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
As a result, many in the baseball world have grumbled and groaned about the massive spending Los Angeles is doing on the open market.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Many small business owners have been worried about having to file individual lawsuits to get their refunds because lawyers have suggested that might be the case.—
Scott Horsley,
NPR,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Regardless of the user, neighbors worried about the impacts of any industrial development to the nearby neighborhoods, city infrastructure, utility bills and schools within miles of the site.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The jaguar growled, whirled and bit off the protruding head of the arrow.—
Delbert L. Chears,
Outdoor Life,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Come on, the gunman growled, turning and walking and beckoning with the pistol for Adi to follow.—
Jonathan Miles,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complained. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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