Synonyms of complaining

complaining 1 of 2

adjective

as in protesting

Related Words

• protesting
• grumbling
• griping
• kvetching
• whining
• fussing
• squawking
• unforgiving
• uncompromising
• impatient
• intolerant
• unyielding

Dissimilar Words

• patient
• enduring
• abiding
• tolerant
• accepting
• willing
• forgiving
• forbearing
• resigned
• uncomplaining
• long-suffering
• indulgent

complaining

2 of 2

verb

present participle of complain

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

• whining
• screaming
• moaning
• muttering
• grumbling
• bitching
• worrying
• whimpering
• griping
• crying
• growling
• squealing
• kicking
• grousing
• murmuring
• nagging
• squawking
• yammering
• hollering
• carping
• whinging
• wailing
• bellyaching
• protesting
• beefing
• repining
• bleating
• grouching
• inveighing
• kvetching
• fussing
• yowling
• grumping
• keening
• grizzling
• crabbing
• caterwauling
• croaking
• yawping
• kicking up a fuss
• sobbing
• maundering
• quarreling (with)
• quibbling
• objecting (to)
• lamenting
• fretting
• bemoaning
• bewailing
• stewing
• blubbering
• deploring
• caviling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rejoicing
• delighting
• accepting
• taking
• tolerating
• enduring
• crowing
• bearing
• cheering
• applauding
• commending
• countenancing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of complaining

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

The most dangerous toxic candidates are rarely the people who spend the interview openly complaining that their last boss was an idiot. — Mark Murphy, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026

Khan’s lawyers criticized the process leading to his ouster, complaining that he was blocked from addressing the session Friday and arguing the regulations had been rewritten to disadvantage him. — ABC News, 25 July 2026

The loudmouth shorts that Corporate America loves to hate are likely to stay on the sidelines a while longer – nobody likes the guy at the party complaining the music is too loud. — Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 23 July 2026

Who is complaining and what does the riders’ association say? — Chris Marshall-Bell, New York Times, 22 July 2026

There may be nothing more predictable than the SEC complaining about something. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026

Nights in a restaurant are often spent describing flavors, in sensory attention—at least when they aren’t filled with flirting with your coworkers or complaining about guests. — Kyle Lucia Wu, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 July 2026

Why would somebody who is complaining about the hot July sun also be contemplating a trip to Jamaica? — Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 19 July 2026

The reporter quoted Pfleger himself complaining about how unfair the policies of investigation are, and posited that people are out to destroy him and to get money from the archdiocese. — Daily Southtown, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026