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

That Sean Payton won by 20 on the road and still spent a good chunk of his postgame presser either complaining, yammering about Jack Lemmon, or both, is a heck of a good sign. — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 17 Aug. 2026

Luwi was about four years old when his mother began complaining of headaches and joint pain. — Rachel Aviv, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026

Citizens poured out torrents of letters to editors complaining of Holmes’s fate. — Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026

In one, 400 people were presented with two scenarios in which a friend visited a doctor complaining of menopause symptoms, including extreme fatigue, weight gain, and joint and muscle pain. — Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 14 Aug. 2026

Aicher is moving arms and legs and talking, but complaining of neck pain. — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2026

Meanwhile, people have already started complaining online about fellow passengers taking Zoom calls and Microsoft Teams meetings onboard. — Nancy Walecki, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026

Sure, there were some folks on social media complaining about having to leave their cellphones behind, but the overall reaction appeared mostly positive from fans who claimed tickets before the event eventually sold out. — Trey Wallace Outkick, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Our Good Question email inbox is filled right now with several people complaining about hearing swear words in political ads. — Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026