Synonyms of complaining

complain 1 of 3

verb (1)

kəm-ˈplān 

as in to whine

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

• whine
• scream
• moan
• grumble
• mutter
• worry
• bitch
• growl
• squeal
• cry
• kvetch
• whimper
• gripe
• kick
• whinge
• nag
• squawk
• murmur
• inveigh
• holler
• repine
• wail
• grouse
• keen
• bellyache
• bleat
• protest
• beef
• fuss
• yammer
• yowl
• kick up a fuss
• kick up a stink
• caterwaul
• carp
• grouch
• grizzle
• grump
• croak
• crab
• yaup
• sob
• yawp
• object (to)
• maunder
• quarrel (with)
• quibble
• cavil
• lament
• fret
• bemoan
• bewail
• deplore
• stew
• blubber

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rejoice
• delight
• accept
• tolerate
• take
• endure
• bear
• applaud
• commend
• crow
• cheer
• countenance

complaining

2 of 3

verb (2)

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
• growling
• whingeing
• griping
• squealing
• bellyaching
• crying
• grousing
• grouching
• kicking
• kvetching
• whinging
• murmuring
• yammering
• squawking
• nagging
• hollering
• grumping
• carping
• grizzling
• protesting
• wailing
• repining
• beefing
• caterwauling
• inveighing
• bleating
• yowling
• yawping
• keening
• kicking up a fuss
• fussing
• crabbing
• kicking up a stink
• croaking
• maundering
• yauping
• sobbing
• quarrelling (with)
• quibbling
• quarreling (with)
• cavilling
• lamenting
• objecting (to)
• fretting
• caviling
• bemoaning
• bewailing
• stewing
• blubbering
• deploring

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rejoicing
• delighting
• accepting
• taking
• tolerating
• enduring
• crowing
• bearing
• cheering
• applauding
• commending
• countenancing

complaining

3 of 3

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of complaining

Verb

When the child complained that her hands were cold, Manchester came up with a DIY solution. —Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Oct. 2025

Some customers complained about the lack of human support, prompting Klarna to rethink part of its AI-first hiring strategy. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2025

Adjective

Substance abuse was not detected in a large majority (79%) of visitors to emergency departments complaining of heat. —Joan Meiners, AZCentral.com, 29 Sep. 2025

In April, 44-year-old Marie Ange Blaise, a Haitian, died while being held at GEO’s Pompano Beach facility after complaining of chest pains. —Shirsho Dasgupta, Miami Herald, 26 Sep. 2025