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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Trump also complained about the way his hair looked on the cover of Time magazine.
—
Diane Brady, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025
The one-star general was leading the White House Military Office when a handful of employees first complained about his leadership style in January 2020.
—Davis Winkie, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025
Allocating more of the stock sold in an IPO to retail traders is designed to provide a boost to trading once those shares are listed, and placate local investors who have complained about missing out on the gains on offer from buying shares.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2025
The team captain complained that players showed up late to player-only meetings.
—Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Even some in the opposition complained that the booing was impolitic.
—Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
For years, residents of the West End and Old Louisville have complained about recovery programs buying up homes and altering the fabric of their neighborhoods.
—Keely Doll, Louisville Courier Journal, 12 Oct. 2025
No one complained about a second chance to celebrate.
—Peter Baugh, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Some Russians already have complained about Max’s functionality (and mocked VK’s semi-cheesy, semi-effective enlistment of rappers, comedians, and influencers to promote it).
—Justin Sherman, The Atlantic, 11 Oct. 2025
Diane Brady, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025
The one-star general was leading the White House Military Office when a handful of employees first complained about his leadership style in January 2020.
—Davis Winkie, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025
Allocating more of the stock sold in an IPO to retail traders is designed to provide a boost to trading once those shares are listed, and placate local investors who have complained about missing out on the gains on offer from buying shares.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2025
The team captain complained that players showed up late to player-only meetings.
—Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Even some in the opposition complained that the booing was impolitic.
—Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
For years, residents of the West End and Old Louisville have complained about recovery programs buying up homes and altering the fabric of their neighborhoods.
—Keely Doll, Louisville Courier Journal, 12 Oct. 2025
No one complained about a second chance to celebrate.
—Peter Baugh, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
Some Russians already have complained about Max’s functionality (and mocked VK’s semi-cheesy, semi-effective enlistment of rappers, comedians, and influencers to promote it).
—Justin Sherman, The Atlantic, 11 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complained
Verb
-
The professional chef, who had never smelled her own feet before, screamed as Barrymore picked up her foot and gave it a sniff.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Also at the game was Travis Kelce's fiancée, Taylor Swift, who rocked an outfit that screamed Chiefs pride.—
Skyler Caruso,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
From the other room, the victim moaned.—
Stephanie Kuzydym,
The Courier-Journal,
15 Aug. 2025
-
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
-
But the other 3%, often muttered by students prospectively examining transfer applications, is distinct.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Although full disclosure, those two words were muttered in the press box Sunday after Nix had thrown two unsightly picks through the first three quarters of the Broncos’ win over Tennessee.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Once the launchpad for Oscar juggernauts from Slumdog Millionaire to La La Land, TIFF has in recent years watched rivals Venice and Telluride siphon away its prestige premieres, while buyers grumbled about thinner slates and softer deal flow.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Sep. 2025
-
His son hugged him, and Frazier grumbled with his team about what might have been.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Her mother-in-law tried to help by offering to take care of the dogs herself, but the woman worried that would be too much to ask.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
-
For employees worried that AI agents could take their jobs, one of the field’s leading founders says the technology is still far from perfect.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Complained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complained. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share