as in to scream
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 complain
Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 6 June 2026
The Bruins won’t complain about Larkin’s request.
—Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 5 June 2026
Rick Ellis, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Hegseth had some choice words for Europe, complaining that allies in the region hadn’t pulled their weight.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 30 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for complain
Verb
Many residents spoke during public comment to complain about the county’s traffic and deficient infrastructure, issues that Abruzzo said only will worsen without property taxes.
—Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 6 June 2026
The Bruins won’t complain about Larkin’s request.
—Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 5 June 2026
Verb
Next to complaints about the DMV, complaining about your cable company was almost an American pastime.
—Rick Ellis, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Hegseth had some choice words for Europe, complaining that allies in the region hadn’t pulled their weight.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 30 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for complain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complain
Verb
-
On the witness stand, the teenager was reportedly combative and flustered by Jackson’s attorney Tom Mesereau, who attempted to poke holes in Gavin’s testimony and allegedly screamed at the boy throughout.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
-
Jay practically embarrassed Mase, then a pop rapper at Bad Boy Records, not by screaming but by sounding amused.—
Jayson Buford,
Rolling Stone,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
And how about the Liberty players and coaches whining about it?—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
-
In other words, the league no longer wants to be in the business of fining people for playing Cody Williams and John Konchar in the fourth quarter, or listening to other GMs whining about it.—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
These plays all scratch the same exact itch of, say, watching Bachelorette hunks get hooked up to a lie detector or watching Mike White whine about the lack of fine cuisine on Survivor.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
-
And how about the Liberty players and coaches whining about it?—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
And watching the videos of the people jumping out of their chairs, screaming, cheering was so cool.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
2 June 2026
-
An exasperated Tomás enters the thicket himself to retrieve, among other items, Liam’s boot, and doesn’t emerge until the next day—not screaming, but fundamentally changed.—
Nora Biette-Timmons,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
And yes, that sound will dissipate and soon will be too faint for my human ears as it is absorbed into space, but Renee Gladman writes that spaces moan.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
-
The process left Carruthers bleeding and moaning on May 21, according to the witness, Maria DeLiberato, senior counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union's Capital Punishment Project.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
The process left Carruthers bleeding and moaning on May 21, according to the witness, Maria DeLiberato, senior counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union's Capital Punishment Project.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
-
The stuff with a load of people wearing wigs moaning about taxes just isn’t seen as very glamorous.—
Sean Woods,
Rolling Stone,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
Hippos grunt and grumble in the shallows, crocodiles sunbathe on sandbanks, elephants appear along the banks, while fish eagles call overhead as sunset approaches.—
Sarah Kingdom,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2026
-
Fan and player discontent (as suggested by so many squad members apparently endorsing Salah’s recent social-media post grumbling about the team’s style of play), coupled with a failure to achieve the bare-minimum requirement this season, would surely make Slot’s position untenable.—
Gregg Evans,
New York Times,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
An edgy confrontation The Rangers were still seething as Keenan attempted to address the team following a demoralizing 3-1 loss, with a few snapping back or muttering under their breath.—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
On Tuesday, cameras caught Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing muttering something after looking back at the Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee, who was in discomfort after an awkward slide at home plate.—
Bill Shaikin,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complain. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
