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
Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 11 Jan. 2026
From bartenders in Virginia-Highland to servers in Alpharetta, several employees of food and drink businesses reported customers complaining about water that tastes like mildew.
—Sheeka Sanahori - For The Ajc, AJC.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Failing to get a criminal conviction tossed and again complaining about the conditions at Rikers Island, Weinstein wants to begin negotiations with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg‘s office ahead of his upcoming trial, his lawyer said during a hearing Thursday.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026
There’s no more complaining about getting to use the gym.
—Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 8 Jan. 2026
Then people started complaining.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Flores arrived at court wearing bandages on her face and, according to her attorney, complaining of bruises on her ribs.
—Elizabeth Rosner, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
Some are also complaining that parking discounts for city residents — which the City Council has said are a high priority — cost $5 for residency verification, come with two-day delays and are hard to figure out and cumbersome.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
But Frederica Wilson, a Democratic congresswoman from South Florida, vividly remembers her constituents complaining about one Facebook ad in particular.
—David Smiley, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
But the same town also was sued in November by Stillson LLC, a company complaining because zoners approved an 8-30g project.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 11 Jan. 2026
From bartenders in Virginia-Highland to servers in Alpharetta, several employees of food and drink businesses reported customers complaining about water that tastes like mildew.
—Sheeka Sanahori - For The Ajc, AJC.com, 9 Jan. 2026
Failing to get a criminal conviction tossed and again complaining about the conditions at Rikers Island, Weinstein wants to begin negotiations with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg‘s office ahead of his upcoming trial, his lawyer said during a hearing Thursday.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 8 Jan. 2026
There’s no more complaining about getting to use the gym.
—Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 8 Jan. 2026
Then people started complaining.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Flores arrived at court wearing bandages on her face and, according to her attorney, complaining of bruises on her ribs.
—Elizabeth Rosner, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
Some are also complaining that parking discounts for city residents — which the City Council has said are a high priority — cost $5 for residency verification, come with two-day delays and are hard to figure out and cumbersome.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
But Frederica Wilson, a Democratic congresswoman from South Florida, vividly remembers her constituents complaining about one Facebook ad in particular.
—David Smiley, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complaining
Verb
-
Illinois Republicans have turned whining into an artform.—
Paul Miller,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
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First came Notre Dame whining over missing out on a College Football Playoff invite.—
Greg Cote
December 14,
Miami Herald,
14 Dec. 2025
Verb
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According to the Union Parish Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched in November to a residence in the Linville community of Marion after a caller reported a neighbor standing in their driveway screaming and refusing to leave the property despite having been warned previously.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
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Avid viewers of The Studio will appreciate the callback to a watershed episode this season when Ice Cube, as himself, uttered the same to a room filled with screaming fans, causing a fresh headache for Seth Rogen’s backlot boss Matt Remick.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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
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There’s something moaning in the background.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The camera then turns to James Austin Johnson, who played the president, sleeping and muttering New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s name.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Dec. 2025
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On the plane, Dick clutches the slingshot and begins sweating and muttering to himself before becoming unresponsive.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Bisciotti’s conversations with players came on the heels of a season when there was far more locker room grumbling about Harbaugh and other coaches than in previous years.—
Jeff Zrebiec,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2026
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Arizona mounted a steady 76-yard drive moments later, capped by Deguara's first TD catch since 2021 to spark grumbling in SoFi Stadium.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In Tokyo, travelers can explore the bustling neighborhoods of Shibuya, Harajuku, and Shinjuku, admire cutting-edge architecture, stroll through peaceful Japanese gardens, and experience vibrant nightlife without worrying about personal safety.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Jan. 2026
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Devices stay online without worrying about draining the car’s starter battery.—
Ascend Agency,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complaining. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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