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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of complained
Staff and managers complained about the lack of specifics, as did legal-services providers and advocacy groups.
—
E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 7 May 2026
Fans and politicians have complained in every language.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 6 May 2026
A lot of the people that complained about Spirit never flew us.
—Veronica Ortega, CBS News, 5 May 2026
In the body-camera video, Lambert complained that the player struck her first with his helmet.
—ABC News, 5 May 2026
Sources among Madrid’s coaching staff have complained about the 23-year-old’s attitude and professionalism.
—Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 5 May 2026
During the meeting, Chief of the General Staff, Valery Gerasimov criticized the Federal Security Service (FSB) head Alexander Bortnikov for failing to protect his officers, who in turn complained of a lack of resources and personnel to do the job, the report says.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
Officer Danny Wu testified that Steele had not initially complained of injuries.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
Landlords also complained some tenants took advantage of the moratorium to live rent free.
—Michael Casey, Fortune, 3 May 2026
E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 7 May 2026
Fans and politicians have complained in every language.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 6 May 2026
A lot of the people that complained about Spirit never flew us.
—Veronica Ortega, CBS News, 5 May 2026
In the body-camera video, Lambert complained that the player struck her first with his helmet.
—ABC News, 5 May 2026
Sources among Madrid’s coaching staff have complained about the 23-year-old’s attitude and professionalism.
—Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 5 May 2026
During the meeting, Chief of the General Staff, Valery Gerasimov criticized the Federal Security Service (FSB) head Alexander Bortnikov for failing to protect his officers, who in turn complained of a lack of resources and personnel to do the job, the report says.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
Officer Danny Wu testified that Steele had not initially complained of injuries.
—Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
Landlords also complained some tenants took advantage of the moratorium to live rent free.
—Michael Casey, Fortune, 3 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complained
Verb
-
On Tuesday, officers originally were called to the residence after a female ran out to an animal control officer in the area and screamed that her family member had been shot.—
Rick Hurd,
Mercury News,
7 May 2026
-
Set in Chicago in the Jazz Age and inspired by the true crime of passion news events that screamed from Windy City newspaper headlines, the musical is based on the 1926 play of the same name by Maurine Dallas Watkins, a journalist covering the city’s courthouse beat.—
Philip Potempa,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Remember that one time John Boyega, who played Finn, whined about how Disney didn't do his black character justice?—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
6 May 2026
-
He was outplayed by kids who had maybe 1/15th of his raw talent and whined to officials.—
Lindsay Schnell,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 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
-
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
-
But the other 3%, often muttered by students prospectively examining transfer applications, is distinct.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Back then, purists grumbled that the modern reinterpretation of the British classic departed from the rough and tumble identity of Defenders past.—
John Scott Lewinski,
Robb Report,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Aura grumbled along with her classmates.—
Ava Berger,
NPR,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Early this year many Fed policymakers were worried the job market was stalling and leaned toward rate cuts.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 May 2026
-
But as more headlines emerge about the potentially deadly infection, many are reminded of the COVID pandemic − and worried about the United State's preparedness.—
Sara Moniuszko,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Mira growled into her watch, excitedly.—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
The wereboar growled next to Black Pudding, a hulking vicious monster, both focused on ripping Puck and Cordelia to shreds.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complained. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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