complain 1 of 3

complaining

2 of 3

verb (2)

present participle of complain

complaining

3 of 3

adjective

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
Verb
A number of Tesla shareholders, including some Democrats who oversee the investment of public sector pension fund money in Tesla stock, complained in May to Tesla Board Chair Robyn Denholm that Musk’s other activities are hurting the company. Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 14 July 2025 Essentially, the legislation does away with a process that some have complained can be time-consuming and expensive—at least in some cases. Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 July 2025 Trump has complained about the EU's $231 billion trade surplus in goods, which shows Americans buy more goods from European businesses than the other way around. arkansasonline.com, 13 July 2025 Once, someone complained about people drinking in the street. Theodore Parisienne, New York Daily News, 12 July 2025 Trump cut off trade talks with the northern neighbor on June 27, complaining about Canada’s triple-digit tariffs on dairy products. Bart Jansen, USA Today, 11 July 2025 Three days prior, 86-year-old Stevens had complained of chest pain and was admitted to a Nashville hospital. Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 11 July 2025 Some downtown residents have complained about advertisements that wrap apartment buildings, hotels and more — but the trolley wraps don’t seem to get the same complaints. Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 July 2025 Generally, supporters aren’t that sympathetic to players at the highest level complaining about the idea that they’re being made to play too much football (as some of the replies to Kounde’s post on social media illustrated), largely because of their wages. Stuart James, New York Times, 10 July 2025
Adjective
The irony of the quintessential real estate expert buying a home in the flight path of an international airport, then complaining about the noise, is not lost on the rest of Palm Beach County. Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025 That first-round pick became Merriman (although, the Giants aren't complaining). Ryan Morik, Fox News, 8 Jan. 2025 The Buccaneers started complaining to the officials about fouls. Cj Moore, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025 To the person complaining about fireworks, excellent example of police picking and choosing which laws to enforce. Ticked Off, Orlando Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2025 For a start, just a week ago, no one was complaining about Alexander-Arnold’s contribution to the 5-0 rout of West Ham. James Pearce, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025 The relaxation of the angles of their wrist, the ability of them to open their chest and the distance between their scapulas, also like a lot of athletes come in complaining of upper back pain, neck pain, wrist pain, things like that, pressure on their hands. Josh Ross, Outside Online, 5 Jan. 2025 With some members complaining that Connecticut’s 8-30g statute is simply too powerful, Glastonbury’s town plan and zoning commission approved Morello Realty LLC’s plan for a 44-unit apartment complex that qualifies as affordable under the law. Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 4 Jan. 2025 Almost immediately after the measure’s unanimous adoption, majority Democrats in the House and Senate began complaining these caps on spending and borrowing and other savings mechanisms were too restrictive and badly in need of an adjustment. Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 4 Jan. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Complaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complaining. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.

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