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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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
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
-
One fan sitting just behind Williams’ family literally screamed with excitement, pumping her fist in the air and turning to hype up the crowd.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
-
His poetic minimalism produced an atmosphere that screamed quietly.—
Thomas Rom,
ARTnews.com,
8 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
-
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
-
Despite shooting 1-for-16 and committing five turnovers in the final period, Valkyries coach Nakase said nothing worried her about her team’s fourth quarter performance.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
13 June 2026
-
Helen worried about Pip’s socialization.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 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
Cite this Entry
“Complained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complained. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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