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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of complaining
Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
ABC News, 21 Mar. 2026
Across the country, more consumers are complaining about debt collections, according to government data.
—William Tong, Dallas Morning News, 20 Mar. 2026
For a delivery robot that needs to drop food at a precise doorstep, being several feet off means unhappy customers complaining their burger is cold—or in their neighbor’s tummy.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2026
Residents in the area had been complaining about a strong odor coming from the hillside before the discovery, Miami Township Administrator Jim Brett told the news outlet on Tuesday.
—Michael Guise, CBS News, 18 Mar. 2026
Liborio speaks with a mix of rage and despondence about his situation; complaining about the pejorative labels those around him call him to diminish his existence.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
After the wedding, I was told I was caught on video complaining about the wedding and bridal couple.
—Eric Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 17 Mar. 2026
Many are complaining about their local property tax.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026
Whitney has been complaining to Conner that Jen has been weirdly unfriendly at the Dancing With the Stars studio.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 14 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
Coach Jamie Dixon also got a technical foul in the second half for complaining in frustration after there was no goaltending call on a block from behind by Maliq Brown.
—ABC News, 21 Mar. 2026
Across the country, more consumers are complaining about debt collections, according to government data.
—William Tong, Dallas Morning News, 20 Mar. 2026
For a delivery robot that needs to drop food at a precise doorstep, being several feet off means unhappy customers complaining their burger is cold—or in their neighbor’s tummy.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2026
Residents in the area had been complaining about a strong odor coming from the hillside before the discovery, Miami Township Administrator Jim Brett told the news outlet on Tuesday.
—Michael Guise, CBS News, 18 Mar. 2026
Liborio speaks with a mix of rage and despondence about his situation; complaining about the pejorative labels those around him call him to diminish his existence.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
After the wedding, I was told I was caught on video complaining about the wedding and bridal couple.
—Eric Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 17 Mar. 2026
Many are complaining about their local property tax.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026
Whitney has been complaining to Conner that Jen has been weirdly unfriendly at the Dancing With the Stars studio.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 14 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
-
Among the dead were 13 children and 14 non-protesting civilians, HRANA said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
McGraw has been doing the work Close arguably couldn’t for weeks without coming across as whining.—
Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Paige is little more than a dumb blonde stereotype, another underwritten female character in Sheridan’s growing oeuvre, but Chapman laces her babyish whining with surprising bite, while showing a knack for physical comedy.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Witnesses recorded a video of Barranco screaming in pain as four agents piled on top of him and punched him during the arrest.—
Luzdelia Caballero,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Late in the second quarter of Sunday night’s game at Madison Square Garden, with the lead slipping away in what would eventually be a 110-107 Warriors loss to the Knicks, Steve Kerr was caught on camera screaming and pointing at Will Richard after a turnover.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
One minute later, Pedro Neto was yellow-carded for moaning.—
Matt Slater,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
-
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
-
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
-
Strong was furious, grumbling all the way across the court about her defeat.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
16 Mar. 2026
-
When his teams didn’t entertain, Moe became the show, this cursing, grumbling, rumpled 6-foot-5 firebrand who dressed like a ’70s private detective, a disheveled anti-hero who detested suits.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Another issue worrying farmers in major food-producing countries like Brazil and India is that the war is also hurting the export market.—
Fatma Tanis,
NPR,
20 Mar. 2026
-
And so it’s been just a back-and-forth process, trying to be here, the present moment, worrying about home and headlines.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complaining. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
