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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in protesting
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of complaining
Chris Willman, Variety, 4 Sep. 2025
But everybody was complaining and asking for a hot one.
—Andy Wang, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Ekwonu, 24, went to the team facility last weekend complaining of stomach pain.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2025
There were a small percentage of drivers who turned the system off, complaining that the alerts were too frequent and annoying, the Institute reported.
—Jamie L. Lareau, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025
Other videos show her daughter complaining when there's no Wifi, playing with several electronic devices simultaneously, feeling bored despite having dozens of games and activities at her fingertips, and even showing her multi-step skincare routine.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
Users began complaining about Color Labs’ lack of features, technical problems, and poor user experience.
—Harvard Business Review, 27 Aug. 2025
This wasn’t a complaining coach.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2025
This filling treat will not have anyone complaining about where dinner might be.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Nah — not very long later, Tony is referencing his Bond obsession, complaining about the generic name of the secret drone-control computer program everyone is battling for here.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 4 Sep. 2025
But everybody was complaining and asking for a hot one.
—Andy Wang, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Ekwonu, 24, went to the team facility last weekend complaining of stomach pain.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2025
There were a small percentage of drivers who turned the system off, complaining that the alerts were too frequent and annoying, the Institute reported.
—Jamie L. Lareau, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025
Other videos show her daughter complaining when there's no Wifi, playing with several electronic devices simultaneously, feeling bored despite having dozens of games and activities at her fingertips, and even showing her multi-step skincare routine.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
Users began complaining about Color Labs’ lack of features, technical problems, and poor user experience.
—Harvard Business Review, 27 Aug. 2025
This wasn’t a complaining coach.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2025
This filling treat will not have anyone complaining about where dinner might be.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complaining
Verb
-
In lesser hands, such a question, especially from a young white male who plays guitar for a living, could come off as whining.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
5 Sep. 2025
-
And since then, his crying and whining have increased.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
A couple climbed through a sunroof to rescue a 22-month-old screaming child left alone in a hot car, Massachusetts police said.—
Paloma Chavez,
Miami Herald,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Kristen raced to the school and found a cop waiting for her as well as firetrucks and an ambulance, where her son was inside screaming.—
Wendy Grossman Kantor,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Ellis could be heard moaning and could be seen lying on the ground.—
Elena Santa Cruz,
AZCentral.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
The patient is actually a training dummy that instructors can manipulate into yelling, moaning, retching, suffering blood pressure spikes, heart attacks and other medical emergencies.—
Beth Warren,
The Tennessean,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
He was also heard muttering expletives down the stretch, visibly battling the heat and pressure.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Aug. 2025
-
That Longhorns fan muttering about Nietzsche was right after all.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Some coaches at Chiefs practice had already been grumbling about the priorities of their third-round draft pick.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Forget the summer of love; this has been the summer of our grumbling discontent.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Agents can take time off without worrying about losing clients.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
29 Aug. 2025
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Additionally, travelers can pack light without worrying about carrying multiple pairs of eyewear.—
Malana VanTyler,
AZCentral.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Complaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complaining. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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