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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of complain
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026
There, employees of a grocery store called 9-1-1 to complain about a young woman who was repeatedly asking people for money.
—Logan Smith, CBS News, 14 Mar. 2026
Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 13 Mar. 2026
What was once a vibrant part of the downtown has largely been abandoned by shoppers, and businesses are complaining about the lack of parking.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for complain
Verb
Many are complaining about their local property tax.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Mar. 2026
There, employees of a grocery store called 9-1-1 to complain about a young woman who was repeatedly asking people for money.
—Logan Smith, CBS News, 14 Mar. 2026
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
The Justice Department filed the lawsuit on a referral from the Federal Trade Commission, which noted in 2024 that consumers had spent years complaining about early termination fees for Adobe products.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 13 Mar. 2026
What was once a vibrant part of the downtown has largely been abandoned by shoppers, and businesses are complaining about the lack of parking.
—U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for complain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complain
protesting
Adjective
-
The death toll includes at least 19 children, 21 non-protesting civilians, and 165 in government or security forces.—
The Hill,
The Hill,
17 Jan. 2026
-
Among the dead were 13 children and 14 non-protesting civilians, HRANA said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complain. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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