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 Soon, some employees complained that creating large language models was much different from creating hardware, per Bloomberg, believing Musk didn’t understand AI. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 16 July 2026 The exploit, which multiple researchers say works, is sending Microsoft scrambling, yet again, to patch a zero-day released by an anonymous researcher who has complained about the software maker’s handling of their bug reports. — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 15 July 2026 Last week, Meta paused a new AI tool to generate images based on public Instagram accounts after users complained that people’s likeness could be used without their consent. — Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026 Eike Schmidt, a former director of the Uffizi Galleries, is reportedly among those who have complained to UNESCO, which is now assessing whether the development is compatible with Florence’s World Heritage status. — George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 13 July 2026 Two other drivers suffered minor injuries and complained of pain. — Brandon Downs, CBS News, 13 July 2026 Shortly after the call, Graham complained of feeling unwell, according to a person who spoke with him, Axios stated. — Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026 Before it was knocked out, Iran's team had complained about unfair treatment in the World Cup. — Jamie Gray, NBC news, 9 July 2026 The pickup’s driver complained of pain after the collision and was arrested by CHP officers at the scene on suspicion of driving under the influence, said CHP officials. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 9 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complained
  1. screamed
  2. whined
  3. moaned
  4. muttered
  5. grumbled
  6. worried
  7. growled
Verb
  • One passenger, identified only as Christina, told Thessaloniki radio that passengers panicked and screamed and that one passenger was partially sucked out of the window.
    — Costas Kantouris, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
  • There was no pomp and circumstance by Haaland, though his teammates screamed and jumped on his back.
    — Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of screamed
Verb
  • After a few casts, Rubye’s rod bent, and the reel whined as line spooled out.
    — John Todd, Outdoor Life, 9 July 2026
  • Traffic hummed and whined on I-85.
    — Thomas Lake, AJC.com, 13 May 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
  • Bat met ball and, under his breath, Astros manager Joe Espada muttered an expletive.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 29 June 2026
  • 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
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
  • Even if the bond was granted, Wilber worried his family wouldn’t have the funds to pay his bail, which can cost thousands of dollars.
    — Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
  • During the Revolutionary War, General Washington worried that British troops were stockpiling weapons and ammunition in the fort and preparing to attack northern colonies.
    — Lane Degregory, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 July 2026
Definition of worried
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
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 17 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of complained for Spanish Speakers

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