as in whines
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
the time-honored tradition of new recruits complaining about the food in the mess hall
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Recent Examples of complains
Every once in a while, a customer complains about the lascivious photos in the loo, but The Charles’ owners brush it off.
—
Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026
More funds would continue to be diverted to maintaining borrowing—something Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio often complains about.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
Kane often complains on social media that state gaming laws were constructed with traditional sportsbooks in mind, a process that failed to conceptualize exchanges.
—Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 4 Feb. 2026
People tend to get involved once a problem becomes visible – when a price looks wrong, a transaction is flagged or a customer complains.
—Murugan Anandarajan, The Conversation, 22 Jan. 2026
In any work setting, there’s a person who sits around the table and complains about what’s wrong with the company, and then, when the boss walks in, that same person is over there pouring coffee, quiet as a church mouse.
—Willie Colon, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2026
Annalise, the most ill-natured guest to embark on the Bravado since the legendary Carlos, complains about the absence of truffles (not in season) on her pasta.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 20 Jan. 2026
Trump complains often that both rooms are too small.
—Darlene Superville, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2025
Instead of examining the fate of the world, Xiu Mei (Sharon Gee) complains about a stray giraffe eating all the leaves off her tree.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Dec. 2025
Sarah Blaskovich, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026
More funds would continue to be diverted to maintaining borrowing—something Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio often complains about.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
Kane often complains on social media that state gaming laws were constructed with traditional sportsbooks in mind, a process that failed to conceptualize exchanges.
—Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 4 Feb. 2026
People tend to get involved once a problem becomes visible – when a price looks wrong, a transaction is flagged or a customer complains.
—Murugan Anandarajan, The Conversation, 22 Jan. 2026
In any work setting, there’s a person who sits around the table and complains about what’s wrong with the company, and then, when the boss walks in, that same person is over there pouring coffee, quiet as a church mouse.
—Willie Colon, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2026
Annalise, the most ill-natured guest to embark on the Bravado since the legendary Carlos, complains about the absence of truffles (not in season) on her pasta.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 20 Jan. 2026
Trump complains often that both rooms are too small.
—Darlene Superville, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2025
Instead of examining the fate of the world, Xiu Mei (Sharon Gee) complains about a stray giraffe eating all the leaves off her tree.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complains
Verb
-
Yet, everything about the Detroit Red Wings captain and his complete game screams winner.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
21 Feb. 2026
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Nothing screams ‘yesterday’s man’ (or woman) like talking about kaizens and lean manufacturing.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Passersby hear its shrieks and moans from the road.—
Judith Shulevitz,
The Atlantic,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Fennell begins on a black screen and the sound of creaks and moans.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Your dad mutters for head movement, for cage cutting, for not playing off the back and creating distance.—
Matthew Shen Goodman,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Shepherd grumbles after a student calls a low pitch a strike.—
Katie Woo,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2026
-
And perhaps some—Ho Jin just barks at him to take it all and grumbles that Ji Seon is a bad influence.—
Hannah Abraham,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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And as the person behind the camera approaches the pit bull, the dog growls and barks while standing in a fearful crouch.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
15 Dec. 2025
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Sturridge crows and growls his lines, rolling his torso and crouching to crawl on his knuckles like a young silverback.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
14 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Complains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complains. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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