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

Parents keep complaining to me that their kids are sedentary at school, even though humans need to keep moving throughout the day to be healthy. — Kara Alaimo, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026

Aside from social media posts complaining about the war’s fallout and some grumbling from oligarchs about the Kremlin seizing their assets, there are still no signs of any widespread popular unrest against Vladimir Putin’s regime. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2026

Amber Lee, a former animal control officer, sued in June, saying she was fired for complaining about the inadequate equipment provided to officers for rescuing animals during wildfires. — Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Aug. 2026

Many of the stakeholders complaining now have tolerated worse. — Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 31 July 2026

Justin began complaining of a stomachache the night of July 3, his mother Terese Peden told the outlet. — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 31 July 2026

Calendar congestion has become one of the sport’s biggest issues, with clubs, leagues and players complaining about excessive workloads. — Clemente Lisi, Forbes.com, 29 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

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