as in protesting
Related Words
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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
Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2026
But please don’t stop complaining about the numerous kids who abuse traffic laws while riding dangerously on e-bikes.
—Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Feb. 2026
King began complaining to Bevel that the young seminarian was too ambitious.
—Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
The conservative Christian advocacy organization Texas Values publicized the the complaint, which does not identify the complaining parent.
—Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 18 Feb. 2026
But the new uniforms flopped spectacularly upon their debut in spring training, with players complaining that the jerseys looked cheap, felt papery and that the names on the back were too small.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 18 Feb. 2026
Now, with a five-day trial set for April 20, the Source is complaining about another uptick in dust at its food hall and market while Mountain Cement is, again, pushing back on such claims.
—Justin Wingerter, Denver Post, 18 Feb. 2026
In September 2008, Jackson was hospitalized at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago after complaining of severe stomach pains and becoming dehydrated, according to the Associated Press.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 17 Feb. 2026
Cooke continued to do just that throughout the episode, complaining about her to others.
—Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 17 Feb. 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
Your corrupt presidency of graft, vengeance and ceaseless vacillation between loudly complaining and loudly boasting has become like a jackhammer outside our collective window every day since your inauguration.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2026
But please don’t stop complaining about the numerous kids who abuse traffic laws while riding dangerously on e-bikes.
—Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Feb. 2026
King began complaining to Bevel that the young seminarian was too ambitious.
—Gail Sheehy, Vanity Fair, 20 Feb. 2026
The conservative Christian advocacy organization Texas Values publicized the the complaint, which does not identify the complaining parent.
—Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 18 Feb. 2026
But the new uniforms flopped spectacularly upon their debut in spring training, with players complaining that the jerseys looked cheap, felt papery and that the names on the back were too small.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 18 Feb. 2026
Now, with a five-day trial set for April 20, the Source is complaining about another uptick in dust at its food hall and market while Mountain Cement is, again, pushing back on such claims.
—Justin Wingerter, Denver Post, 18 Feb. 2026
In September 2008, Jackson was hospitalized at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago after complaining of severe stomach pains and becoming dehydrated, according to the Associated Press.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 17 Feb. 2026
Cooke continued to do just that throughout the episode, complaining about her to others.
—Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 17 Feb. 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
-
Extra points are awarded here to families who avoid any whining about this.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Recognize signs of hypothermia The signs of hypothermia in pets are whining, shivering, anxiety, slowing down, or looking for a warm place to burrow.—
Alexa Herrera,
CBS News,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As the nation bonded as one over the past two weeks biting nails, screaming at wins, wincing at crashes and choking up at all the beautiful moments of Olympic competition, another group of athletes were – and still are – out honing their multi-level championship skills.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
-
People went ballistic—cursing, yelling, screaming, all kinds of threats.—
Andrew Norman Wilson,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
-
But the bad news is that outside of a mutual prisoner exchange, both sides walked away muttering the same old positions.—
Daniel DePetris,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
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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
Verb
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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
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Meanwhile Isom is also facing grumbling over his leadership and the company’s performance from another union, the Allied Pilots Association.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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And as for worrying about too much screen time, Woods has zero concerns.—
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal,
Parents,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The real media merger worth worrying about involves the control of local TV stations.—
Shayla Love,
New Yorker,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complaining. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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