complained

past tense of complain

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 On the final stop on the tour, the Markley people wanted to show the emergency generators that neighbors have complained about. David Wade, CBS News, 18 June 2026 The cancer was discovered in her liver, kidney and lung following a series of tests after Anna complained about experiencing stomach aches. Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 17 June 2026 In it, Heuermann complained about jail food and exercise conditions and fretted that guards might be reading his mail. Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 17 June 2026 Activists are optimistic Both countries complained to FIFA in December. Andrew Destin, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2026 The unusual newcomer has drawn attention in the neighborhood, but no one has complained. ABC News, 16 June 2026 Many residents also complained about the noise the facility could generate and questioned the data center’s location, which is about 400 feet from homes and a school. Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 16 June 2026 But across online investing forums, retail investors complained of small allocations and seemed split on whether to hold or sell the stock. Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 16 June 2026 Iranian leadership complained that visas for key staff members were being held up and the tumult was disturbing its preparation for the tournament. Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 11 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complained
Verb
  • Elena called for Harold, who ran out in his boxers — both men screamed at each other and threatened to call the cops.
    Olivia Bensimon, Curbed, 17 June 2026
  • As the clock ran out, years of pain were screamed out in Frost Bank Center as the Spurs’ home court sounded like it was parked in Times Square on New Year’s Eve.
    Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 14 June 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
  • In the shadows of the long-hut, the elders muttered among themselves—of portents and crops and weather and the storage of grain.
    Maggie O’Farrell, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
  • 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
Verb
  • While diehards have grumbled about the two intervals, which enable media partners to air as many as 10 in-match commercials per game, the opportunity to squeeze some extra revenue out of the FIFA mandate has been too lucrative for Fox to pass up.
    Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 17 June 2026
  • Fans grumbled and became apathetic.
    Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 14 June 2026
Verb
  • But local opposition has been rising too, with communities worried about the power and water demands of the centers, as well as any potential health effects.
    Asia Alexander, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
  • People who worried that recycling or reselling a device would compromise their data were 14% and 9% more likely to store it instead.
    Eric Williams, The Conversation, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • Jack White, who growled and grinded as the singer/guitarist of the White Stripes and has since positioned himself as a primal rock god on his own, is showing a new side as a sculptor with a show opening in a London gallery run by none other than Damien Hirst.
    Andy Battaglia, ARTnews.com, 22 May 2026
  • Mira growled into her watch, excitedly.
    Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 4 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Complained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complained. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.

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