as in protesting
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Dissimilar Words
as in whining
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of complaining
Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
Gil Troy, New York Daily News, 29 Mar. 2026
Some Toyota fans reacted poorly to the announcement, complaining about the loss of the hybrid version of the Highlander that Toyota has marketed since 2005.
—Keith Laing, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026
Downtown residents have been complaining to the city commission that the traffic and noise are unbearable and want the volume turned down.
—Steve Maugeri, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
If Disney had marketed the attraction as something else – say, an Amtrak trip for kids – perhaps there would be grounds for complaining about its fakeness.
—Adam Kadlac, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2026
Some observers say hikers could skirt the law and continue to park along state Route 67 and others have been complaining about the new $5 per day parking fee.
—Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Their frustration is apparent in a letter Langston Hughes wrote to fellow Harlem Renaissance writer Arna Bontemps, complaining about the seductiveness of Hollywood.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
His report also noted that Ahmad had been complaining to the prison about inadequate food for months, citing reports from the prison medical clinic.
—ABC News, 25 Mar. 2026
In November, Manilow visited his doctor, complaining of hip pain.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
An energy vampire has bad body language, the complaining look on their face, the vocal complainer.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
Verb
Rather than complaining and predicting economic ruin, Americans treated rationing as noble.
—Gil Troy, New York Daily News, 29 Mar. 2026
Some Toyota fans reacted poorly to the announcement, complaining about the loss of the hybrid version of the Highlander that Toyota has marketed since 2005.
—Keith Laing, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2026
Downtown residents have been complaining to the city commission that the traffic and noise are unbearable and want the volume turned down.
—Steve Maugeri, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026
If Disney had marketed the attraction as something else – say, an Amtrak trip for kids – perhaps there would be grounds for complaining about its fakeness.
—Adam Kadlac, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2026
Some observers say hikers could skirt the law and continue to park along state Route 67 and others have been complaining about the new $5 per day parking fee.
—Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026
Their frustration is apparent in a letter Langston Hughes wrote to fellow Harlem Renaissance writer Arna Bontemps, complaining about the seductiveness of Hollywood.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
His report also noted that Ahmad had been complaining to the prison about inadequate food for months, citing reports from the prison medical clinic.
—ABC News, 25 Mar. 2026
In November, Manilow visited his doctor, complaining of hip pain.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complaining
Adjective
-
The death toll includes at least 19 children, 21 non-protesting civilians, and 165 in government or security forces.—
The Hill,
The Hill,
17 Jan. 2026
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Among the dead were 13 children and 14 non-protesting civilians, HRANA said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
With LeBron James buying into a supporting actor role, the Lakers are a legitimate threat because Doncic is more focused on scoring buckets than whining to officials.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
20 Mar. 2026
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Part of it is [capturing] the color of light in the morning or the sound of drones whining in the air.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
One video shows black smoke streaming out of a building where a wall is painted blue with flowers and the sound of a woman can be heard screaming.—
Marin Scott,
NBC news,
24 Mar. 2026
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Nunez then began raping her while Jones stuffed rocks in her mouth to try to stop her from screaming, detectives said in the report.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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One minute later, Pedro Neto was yellow-carded for moaning.—
Matt Slater,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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While lying on the pavement, he could be heard moaning as an officer shouted at him not to move.—
Jose R. Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
13 Dec. 2025
Verb
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In fact, the director was egging me on, encouraging me to go further with the hunching and muttering.—
Andrew Martin,
Vogue,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Old friend Daniel Vladar was spectacular in making 26 saves, several of which had Morgan Geekie (nine total shots, five on net, two blocked, two misses) muttering to himself.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That was four coaches ago, and Gates seems attuned to some grumbling about how this one is faring.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
21 Mar. 2026
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Strong was furious, grumbling all the way across the court about her defeat.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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How can other young women and girls who wants to be creators online push through that embarrassment and stop worrying about what other people are thinking?—
Emma Hinchliffe,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
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But the start of the war in Iran has many European leaders worrying about a deeper break within NATO.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complaining. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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