as in whined
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
But some residents complained they weren’t provided enough information about the project, which became a cause celebre for Republicans who led the way in stoking fears about the prospect of communist infiltration, given the Chinese ownership of the plant’s parent company.
—
Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
However, Magness argues that Hamilton pushed for the anti-immigrant measures and, after they were passed, complained that not enough deportations were taking place.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 2 Sep. 2025
McDonald's will lower the price of its value meals in September after consumers complained about Big Mac meals that had climbed to $18 in some places, the Wall Street Journal and CNN reported, citing anonymous sources.
—Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2025
Some in a Nashville Reddit thread earlier this year complained of golf carts slowing down traffic and expressed concerns over rider safety.
—Evan Mealins, The Tennessean, 31 Aug. 2025
The adjustment came after multiple women complained in 2022 about hitting inferior products, the Associated Press reported.
—Skyler Caruso, People.com, 31 Aug. 2025
In another case Parks said, a worker complained that their employer had failed to fix an air conditioning unit in a kitchen where the temperature often exceeded 90 degrees; the worker was taken by an ambulance to the ER for help for heat illness.
—Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2025
The French Revolution, and later the toppling of European governments by Napoleon, at least relieved those countries from the debt burdens that Adam Smith complained about 40 years earlier.
—Nathan Lewis, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
After the game, Orlando coach Oscar Pareja complained about the call that led to the penalty kick and player ejection.
—Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2025
Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
However, Magness argues that Hamilton pushed for the anti-immigrant measures and, after they were passed, complained that not enough deportations were taking place.
—Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 2 Sep. 2025
McDonald's will lower the price of its value meals in September after consumers complained about Big Mac meals that had climbed to $18 in some places, the Wall Street Journal and CNN reported, citing anonymous sources.
—Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2025
Some in a Nashville Reddit thread earlier this year complained of golf carts slowing down traffic and expressed concerns over rider safety.
—Evan Mealins, The Tennessean, 31 Aug. 2025
The adjustment came after multiple women complained in 2022 about hitting inferior products, the Associated Press reported.
—Skyler Caruso, People.com, 31 Aug. 2025
In another case Parks said, a worker complained that their employer had failed to fix an air conditioning unit in a kitchen where the temperature often exceeded 90 degrees; the worker was taken by an ambulance to the ER for help for heat illness.
—Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2025
The French Revolution, and later the toppling of European governments by Napoleon, at least relieved those countries from the debt burdens that Adam Smith complained about 40 years earlier.
—Nathan Lewis, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
After the game, Orlando coach Oscar Pareja complained about the call that led to the penalty kick and player ejection.
—Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complained
Verb
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Steve Jobs screamed from time to time as self-therapy.—
Christopher Borrelli,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Sep. 2025
-
The symbolism is a little over-the-top if this is the case, but then again, this is a show for teens based on a YA novel, also for teens, and sometimes the symbolism needs to be screamed in ALL CAPS.—
Sam Reed,
Glamour,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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From the other room, the victim moaned.—
Stephanie Kuzydym,
The Courier-Journal,
15 Aug. 2025
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Yankees fans have moaned and groaned about Aaron Boone’s deployment of Williams in crucial situations this season, and it’s only exacerbated now that every game counts in the postseason race.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
9 Aug. 2025
Verb
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There are few actors whose disembodied voices could carry long stretches of cinema, but Dafoe manages it, turning monologues about marionette mechanics or muttered complaints about hotel politics into something weirdly magnetic.—
Leila Latif,
IndieWire,
31 Aug. 2025
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Some faculty and staff reacted with horror, others voiced increasing fear about the ongoing assault on academic freedom, and some merely muttered in sad resignation to the new reality.—
Giuliana Perrone,
Mercury News,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The novel, published to immediate controversy in India—an obscenity suit was filed over its portrayal of an intercaste romance—offended her Syrian Christian kin, who grumbled about misrepresentation.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
3 Sep. 2025
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At those, Democrats restless about their party’s direction grumbled at Levin’s answers and urged more action from their leaders; one event was disrupted by protests over Israel’s killing of Palestinians in Gaza.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Such incidents, in the past, would have had her run home, and write about them furiously in her journal, worried that forgetting them would erase the blessings corresponded to it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Sep. 2025
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Luka’s policy change was motivated in part by regulatory pressure, especially in Italy, where officials worried that Replika posed a risk to minors and emotionally fragile users.—
Patricia Marx,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Complained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complained. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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