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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of complained
Iranians still had access to a national internet, but that has a far narrower reach, and users complained of poor service and heavy censorship.
—
Amir-Hussein Radjy, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2026
Motorists complained the gasoline was contaminated and ruined their cars.
—ABC News, 27 May 2026
Industry reporters compared the performance of this movie to the grosses of previous Star Wars films and complained the movie felt more like four television episodes strung together instead of a real theatrical film.
—Rick Ellis, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Much of the criticism of the race has complained of weak candidates, though that’s not exactly what’s made the race lame.
—Matt Fleming, Oc Register, 27 May 2026
When the White House fight lineup was released in March, some UFC fans complained that the card lacked real star power.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 26 May 2026
After two or three weeks of this, my colleagues and I complained to the Public Security Service, stating that the site was a crime scene and demanding that it be protected.
—Amer Matar, The Dial, 26 May 2026
Several fans complained on social media about having a poor view of the singer's concert due to the tour's tall ramp structures.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 21 May 2026
Defense and foreign ministry officials this week formally complained to the Russian embassy about the air incident, the statement added.
—CBS News, 20 May 2026
Amir-Hussein Radjy, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2026
Motorists complained the gasoline was contaminated and ruined their cars.
—ABC News, 27 May 2026
Industry reporters compared the performance of this movie to the grosses of previous Star Wars films and complained the movie felt more like four television episodes strung together instead of a real theatrical film.
—Rick Ellis, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Much of the criticism of the race has complained of weak candidates, though that’s not exactly what’s made the race lame.
—Matt Fleming, Oc Register, 27 May 2026
When the White House fight lineup was released in March, some UFC fans complained that the card lacked real star power.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 26 May 2026
After two or three weeks of this, my colleagues and I complained to the Public Security Service, stating that the site was a crime scene and demanding that it be protected.
—Amer Matar, The Dial, 26 May 2026
Several fans complained on social media about having a poor view of the singer's concert due to the tour's tall ramp structures.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 21 May 2026
Defense and foreign ministry officials this week formally complained to the Russian embassy about the air incident, the statement added.
—CBS News, 20 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complained
Verb
-
Angered by the demonstration, Keenan first screamed at the protesters and then spit in the face of one.—
Jason Green,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
-
There were so many cool sculptures and pieces of architecture that screamed to be turned into a puzzle.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 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
-
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
-
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
-
Labor interests, in particular, worried that a private Pinnacol would end up raising rates and leaving high-risk industries, such as construction, unable to afford workers’ comp insurance.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
-
But those lot rents have slowly increased across the state and have priced out some retirees, leaving Good Samaritan residents worried the change in ownership may push them out too.—
Natalia Jaramillo,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 May 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 1 Jun. 2026.
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