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
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Recent Examples of complained
Staff have complained that the current audio system periodically malfunctions during public comment or while City Council members are speaking from the dais.
—
Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2026
The issue of high ticket costs and resale scalping has been a topic of discussion among state and federal leaders for years, after the matter was thrust into the zeitgeist when fans complained about ticket sales for Taylor Swift's Eras concert tour.
—Noe Padilla, USA Today, 13 May 2026
Portage resident Bruno Mendez complained Tuesday not about what a code violation cited him for but the way it was worded.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026
Teams that have played in Brazil in the past have complained about the travel requirements early in the season.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 May 2026
For months, Los Angeles parents had complained about i-Ready at school board meetings.
—Tyler Kingkade, NBC news, 12 May 2026
When the trailer dropped, classics buffs complained about Agamemnon’s armor—dark, shiny, and reminiscent of Nolan’s Batsuit.
—Eliana Dockterman, Time, 12 May 2026
But the next school year, more students complained, records show.
—Holly McDede, ProPublica, 12 May 2026
Staff and managers complained about the lack of specifics, as did legal-services providers and advocacy groups.
—E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 7 May 2026
Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2026
The issue of high ticket costs and resale scalping has been a topic of discussion among state and federal leaders for years, after the matter was thrust into the zeitgeist when fans complained about ticket sales for Taylor Swift's Eras concert tour.
—Noe Padilla, USA Today, 13 May 2026
Portage resident Bruno Mendez complained Tuesday not about what a code violation cited him for but the way it was worded.
—Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 13 May 2026
Teams that have played in Brazil in the past have complained about the travel requirements early in the season.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 May 2026
For months, Los Angeles parents had complained about i-Ready at school board meetings.
—Tyler Kingkade, NBC news, 12 May 2026
When the trailer dropped, classics buffs complained about Agamemnon’s armor—dark, shiny, and reminiscent of Nolan’s Batsuit.
—Eliana Dockterman, Time, 12 May 2026
But the next school year, more students complained, records show.
—Holly McDede, ProPublica, 12 May 2026
Staff and managers complained about the lack of specifics, as did legal-services providers and advocacy groups.
—E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 7 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complained
Verb
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On Tuesday, officers originally were called to the residence after a female ran out to an animal control officer in the area and screamed that her family member had been shot.—
Rick Hurd,
Mercury News,
7 May 2026
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Set in Chicago in the Jazz Age and inspired by the true crime of passion news events that screamed from Windy City newspaper headlines, the musical is based on the 1926 play of the same name by Maurine Dallas Watkins, a journalist covering the city’s courthouse beat.—
Philip Potempa,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Traffic hummed and whined on I-85.—
Thomas Lake,
AJC.com,
13 May 2026
-
Second, in a report of their own, the pro-business commissioners whined that all of this was unfair.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Coach Arne Slot moaned about VAR but his problems lie much closer to home.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
-
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
Verb
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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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Back then, purists grumbled that the modern reinterpretation of the British classic departed from the rough and tumble identity of Defenders past.—
John Scott Lewinski,
Robb Report,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Aura grumbled along with her classmates.—
Ava Berger,
NPR,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Early this year many Fed policymakers were worried the job market was stalling and leaned toward rate cuts.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 May 2026
-
But as more headlines emerge about the potentially deadly infection, many are reminded of the COVID pandemic − and worried about the United State's preparedness.—
Sara Moniuszko,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Mira growled into her watch, excitedly.—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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The wereboar growled next to Black Pudding, a hulking vicious monster, both focused on ripping Puck and Cordelia to shreds.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complained. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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