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 protesting
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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
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Recent Examples of complain
Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Nov. 2025
Some Democratic lawmakers complained that so many last-minute earmarks had popped up in the spending bills.
—Wire Report, Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2025
Elizabeth Weise, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
And no complaining about how often the tickets get mixed around in the drum.
—Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for complain
Verb
On Saturday, Daily Mail, citing a source, reported that Harbour faced an internal inquiry after Brown complained about his behavior toward her.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Nov. 2025
Some Democratic lawmakers complained that so many last-minute earmarks had popped up in the spending bills.
—Wire Report, Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
People have been complaining about those short plastic caps on milk and other containers.
—Elizabeth Weise, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
And no complaining about how often the tickets get mixed around in the drum.
—Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for complain
Cite this Entry
“Complain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complain. Accessed 14 Dec. 2025.
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