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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Recent Examples of complained
In demonstrating the technology to CalMatters, using an imaginary 56-year-old female patient who complained of trouble breathing, Scope asked several follow-up questions to drill down on her symptoms.
—
Cal Matters, Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2026
Independent journalists and civil society complained of surveillance and harassment.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 28 Jan. 2026
Then as during the latest shutoffs, people complained that Xcel didn’t keep the public updated, leaving them in the dark as to how long the electricity would be off.
—Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 27 Jan. 2026
Some users have complained about the hiccups and have also claimed that the app was censoring certain political information.
—Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2026
The driver of the Compass, a 49-year-old North Carolina man, complained of an injury at the scene but declined to go to the hospital, according to state police.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 27 Jan. 2026
The board also found that the supervisor on duty should have separated the helicopter and landing responsibilities after the controller complained about being overwhelmed earlier in the shift.
—Joel Rose, NPR, 27 Jan. 2026
Some complained about getting trapped in the same cash-bail system that had ensnared Caldwell.
—Charles Duhigg, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
But people in beloved heritage cities like Venice, Barcelona and Dubrovnik, have complained about over-tourism.
—Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Cal Matters, Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2026
Independent journalists and civil society complained of surveillance and harassment.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 28 Jan. 2026
Then as during the latest shutoffs, people complained that Xcel didn’t keep the public updated, leaving them in the dark as to how long the electricity would be off.
—Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 27 Jan. 2026
Some users have complained about the hiccups and have also claimed that the app was censoring certain political information.
—Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2026
The driver of the Compass, a 49-year-old North Carolina man, complained of an injury at the scene but declined to go to the hospital, according to state police.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 27 Jan. 2026
The board also found that the supervisor on duty should have separated the helicopter and landing responsibilities after the controller complained about being overwhelmed earlier in the shift.
—Joel Rose, NPR, 27 Jan. 2026
Some complained about getting trapped in the same cash-bail system that had ensnared Caldwell.
—Charles Duhigg, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
But people in beloved heritage cities like Venice, Barcelona and Dubrovnik, have complained about over-tourism.
—Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complained
Verb
-
Protesters screamed at agents, threw snowballs and tried to block their vehicles.—
Tim Sullivan,
Fortune,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Mostly, Connell said, the protesters just screamed at agents.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The children jumped for joy after winning a game of cornhole; others fell and whined in defeat, but got up to play again.—
Christopher Buchanan,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Chip whined and nuzzled at my hand.—
Joel M. Vance,
Outdoor Life,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
Strapped to a stretcher in the back of an ambulance, the shooting victim moaned, then screamed.—
Lauren Caruba,
Dallas Morning News,
2 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
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Legislators often grumbled about being squeezed by Newsom, but felt compelled — not always but most of the time — to go along.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Legislators often grumbled about being squeezed by Newsom, but felt compelled — not always but most of the time — to go along.—
Dan Walters,
Oc Register,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Apple reports record iPhone sales Apple reported its best-ever iPhone sales — due largely to growth in China — but its shares stayed flat as investors worried about rising costs.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The committee is already split between those worried about persistent inflation, who’d like to keep rates unchanged, and those who think that recent upticks in unemployment point to a stumbling economy that needs lower interest rates to bolster hiring.—
Christopher Rugaber,
Fortune,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Come on, the gunman growled, turning and walking and beckoning with the pistol for Adi to follow.—
Jonathan Miles,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complained.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complained. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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