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complains

verb

present tense third-person singular of complain
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 complains China is demanding the US ease export bans on high-tech goods, like chipmaking gear; the US bitterly complains about Chinese overproduction and transhipment. — Andy Browne, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026 There’ll always be someone who doesn’t like it, who complains about it. — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2026 Erin then complains about her daughter and drones on about all sorts of things that no one can even pretend to care about. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2026 Changes in Water Pressure Ragsdale’s antenna immediately goes up when a homeowner complains about low water pressure. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 20 Aug. 2026 The private sector complains that there are jobs but that Indians aren’t skilled enough to be hired. — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026 Prescribing Tylenol to a patient who continually complains of back pain will not necessarily solve what ails them. — Chris Adams, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026 If he had been forced to stick with readily available materials, Rashid complains, the deck behind the house would have been green or brown. — Dean Kaufman, Curbed, 30 June 2026 Originalism is a terrific theory for Supreme Court dissents in which some justice complains that the court has invented new constitutional rights. — Noah Feldman, Twin Cities, 25 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complains
  1. whines
  2. screams
  3. moans
  4. mutters
  5. grumbles
  6. growls
Verb
  • Andrew whines about the prattling women who’ve infiltrated his home, firmly establishing that all men are, in fact, terrible.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 18 Sep. 2026
  • On the dashboard, radar whines – tilting higher in pitch the faster cars go.
    — Sarah Matusek, Christian Science Monitor, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of whines
Verb
  • Everything about her screams high school, and this isn’t the only example.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Something that screams ‘luxury’ in one village may say ‘depression’ in another.
    — Salvador Ordorica, Forbes.com, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of screams
Verb
  • Sam makes a production out of teasing them, mock-reaching for various items on the set as the whole group moans and wails in distress.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Endo is the sixth choice midfielder and someone who never moans about his place in the pecking order.
    — James Pearce, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of moans
Verb
  • That’s when Way mutters the p-word — under his breath for plausible deniability, but certainly still with the intention of being heard, smirking at the sound of my laughter.
    — Selome Hailu, Variety, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Wilde read on social media that the tune actually inspired a movie theater meet-cute, as Nash mutters profanity mid-song.
    — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 11 July 2026
Definition of mutters
Verb
  • Gamer grumbles The GTA 6 preview follows a mixed reaction from players to the news that GTA 6 would only be released as a digital download, with no physical disc.
    — Jenni Reid,Alex Buckmaster, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • All crowdfunding projects have an element of risk, but backers of the startup's first Kickstarter for an all-in-one smart telescope seem satisfied with their all-in-one smart telescope - shipping grumbles aside.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 8 Apr. 2026
Definition of grumbles
Verb
  • Griffith growls Griffith could be in position to win its first Greater South Shore Conference title since 2018.
    — Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
  • Foxes use a variety of calls, including barks, howls, yaps, and growls.
    — Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2026
Definition of growls

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Complains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complains. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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