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
Some people complained about paying higher premiums without receiving any of the benefits of insurance coverage.
—
Pat Maio, Oc Register, 3 June 2026
Agostina’s family has complained that security forces were consumed by concerns of fan violence during a major soccer game in the city of Cordoba that day.
—Isabel Debre, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
Advertisement Calmer heads complained that the policy would increase the cost for commuters and small businesses that bring vehicles into the heart of London.
—Justin Worland, Time, 3 June 2026
While that's a steep legislative hill, a sizeable group of Republican senators has openly complained about the fund, leaving open the possibility that Democrats could lure across the aisle an embarrassing number of GOP defectors.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 3 June 2026
Fans complained about tickets not scanning and others were unable to enter.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 3 June 2026
Officials have not said how many students are involved, including how many transgender students have sought accommodations related to bathroom or locker-room access and how many students have complained about such accommodations.
—Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 2 June 2026
Iranians still had access to a national net, but that has a far narrower reach, and users complained of poor service and heavy censorship.
—ABC News, 27 May 2026
Industry reporters compared the performance of this movie to the grosses of previous Star Wars films and complained the movie felt more like four television episodes strung together instead of a real theatrical film.
—Rick Ellis, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Pat Maio, Oc Register, 3 June 2026
Agostina’s family has complained that security forces were consumed by concerns of fan violence during a major soccer game in the city of Cordoba that day.
—Isabel Debre, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
Advertisement Calmer heads complained that the policy would increase the cost for commuters and small businesses that bring vehicles into the heart of London.
—Justin Worland, Time, 3 June 2026
While that's a steep legislative hill, a sizeable group of Republican senators has openly complained about the fund, leaving open the possibility that Democrats could lure across the aisle an embarrassing number of GOP defectors.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 3 June 2026
Fans complained about tickets not scanning and others were unable to enter.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 3 June 2026
Officials have not said how many students are involved, including how many transgender students have sought accommodations related to bathroom or locker-room access and how many students have complained about such accommodations.
—Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 2 June 2026
Iranians still had access to a national net, but that has a far narrower reach, and users complained of poor service and heavy censorship.
—ABC News, 27 May 2026
Industry reporters compared the performance of this movie to the grosses of previous Star Wars films and complained the movie felt more like four television episodes strung together instead of a real theatrical film.
—Rick Ellis, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complained
Verb
-
Angered by the demonstration, Keenan first screamed at the protesters and then spit in the face of one.—
Jason Green,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
-
There were so many cool sculptures and pieces of architecture that screamed to be turned into a puzzle.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 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
-
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
-
The two-time Masters champion spun, glared at the spectator, grumbled under his breath and seemed to point out the person to security.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
-
At a Cannes where some have grumbled about a paucity of studio movies (and thus stars), the absence of Scarlett Johansson at last night’s premiere of Paper Tiger was notable.—
Tom Tapp,
Deadline,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
Labor interests, in particular, worried that a private Pinnacol would end up raising rates and leaving high-risk industries, such as construction, unable to afford workers’ comp insurance.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
-
But those lot rents have slowly increased across the state and have priced out some retirees, leaving Good Samaritan residents worried the change in ownership may push them out too.—
Natalia Jaramillo,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 May 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
Cite this Entry
“Complained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complained. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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