complained

verb

past tense of complain
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

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 complained Grevelding complained that law enforcement appeared to be doing nothing to help him or his family after the incident occurred. — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026 After neighbors complained last week about the diesel generators, Lisle Development Services Director Mike Smetana sent an email to CSquare requesting that the company stop using the temporary generators. — Alicia Fabbre, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026 Democratic board members, including Beatty, complained that the proposal wasn't presented in writing ahead of a vote, the person said. — Joe Walsh, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026 After the guest complained, Marshall says she was called on the carpet. — Doug Gollan, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026 The states complained to the courts that elections can't be rerun. — Dana Taylor, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026 Some fans complained their views were blocked by vendors or other fans walking about as the Bills practiced. — Armando Salguero, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026 Some of them complained about grocery deliveries that were directed out of the country, or of matching with users of dating apps across borders. — Shayla Love, New Yorker, 6 Aug. 2026 Critics have complained that the refunds have not reached households but have instead gone to corporate importers. — Reuters, NBC news, 6 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complained
  1. screamed
  2. whined
  3. moaned
  4. muttered
  5. grumbled
  6. worried
  7. growled
Verb
  • After being shocked with the glove, the officer screamed and dropped to the ground, briefly debilitated for the moment the glove made contact with his skin.
    — Meg Anderson, NPR, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The same trans-activists who screamed at me in legislatures and harassed me at colleges could misuse the Protect College Sports Act to challenge every single state law defending women’s athletic competition…all 27 of them.
    — Riley Gaines OutKick, FOXNews.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of screamed
Verb
  • Post-Covid, Hollywood has whined about the falloff for MPA fare in Pan Asian territories, particularly the once-robust South Korea.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 28 July 2026
  • After a few casts, Rubye’s rod bent, and the reel whined as line spooled out.
    — John Todd, Outdoor Life, 9 July 2026
Definition of whined
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
Definition of moaned
Verb
  • 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
  • Bat met ball and, under his breath, Astros manager Joe Espada muttered an expletive.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 29 June 2026
Definition of muttered
Verb
  • American consumers have grumbled about higher gas prices, but the S&P 500 is up almost 9 percent since the joint American-Israeli operation that started the war in February.
    — Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 9 July 2026
  • The congresswoman, her staffer and I grumbled about how unpredictable the House schedule has been lately.
    — Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Definition of grumbled
Verb
  • But that’s left some observers worried Disney wasn’t bringing in enough summertime visitors.
    — Natasha Chen, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
  • At 24 weeks, Mahato was worried by Kabita’s pallid complexion and again recommended a blood test.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of worried
Verb
  • Since then, Barkley has growled at several other people, and all but one have been diagnosed with some type of cancer, Dozier said.
    — Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 11 Aug. 2026
  • At the other end of our road, the cranes of the docks loomed — great Stothert and Pitt machines that growled overhead like something out of Star Wars, guarding the scale and mystery of the River Thames.
    — Lee Clayton, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of growled

Browse Nearby Words

complainants
complained
complainer
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Cite this Entry

“Complained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complained. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of complained for Spanish Speakers

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