as in protesting
Related Words
Relevance
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
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
-
Among the dead were 13 children and 14 non-protesting civilians, HRANA said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Some had noisy bearings, which could sound like a whining noise.—
John Paul,
The Providence Journal,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Illinois Republicans have turned whining into an artform.—
Paul Miller,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Under the watchful eye of sheriffs deputies who threatened to ticket anyone caught standing in the road, along with a small number of National Guard members, the protesters took turns screaming swears and warming up in nearby parked cars.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
28 Jan. 2026
-
An exodus of prosecutors who didn’t care for his staff screaming sessions and boorish press conferences.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
While Slot was moaning about having to play two away matches in four days (and about missing a couple of key players), Emery, also without important figures such as Boubacar Kamara, was overseeing his Villa side playing the same tough schedule and win both games without conceding a goal.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 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
-
The volume has gone up again since Ruben Amorim’s recent departure, muttering darkly about Gary Neville’s outside influence in particular.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
17 Jan. 2026
-
The older lady who was muttering to herself in casting is there.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Some ponied up, even while grumbling online.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
My father was also sullen from the vodka, and after grumbling some would fall asleep on his grungy sleeper berth.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Also worrying, said Malekan, is that the plan appeared designed to include all of its current business partners, some of which have direct financial ties to NYSE.—
Jeff John Roberts,
Fortune,
29 Jan. 2026
-
But Iranians have become angry and anxious, seeing footage of protesters shot and killed while worrying about what may happen next as the economy — the original focus of the protests — sinks further.—
Jon Gambrell,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complaining. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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