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
Everyone complains about how expensive EVs are.
—
Joel Feder, The Drive, 12 Mar. 2026
At the same time, the Brighton captain, Pascal Gross, complains to referee Chris Kavanagh.
—Stuart James, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
And a woman who complains is said to be defying nature itself.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2026
The five teams scatter to their work stations, bemoaning the 92-degree heat (no one complains about the noisy vroom vroom of the racecar driving around, which surprises me), and get to work.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2026
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
Joel Feder, The Drive, 12 Mar. 2026
At the same time, the Brighton captain, Pascal Gross, complains to referee Chris Kavanagh.
—Stuart James, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
And a woman who complains is said to be defying nature itself.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2026
The five teams scatter to their work stations, bemoaning the 92-degree heat (no one complains about the noisy vroom vroom of the racecar driving around, which surprises me), and get to work.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complains
Verb
-
Made from a lightweight, drapey fabric that screams bohemian charm, this dress is designed for everything from a bathing suit cover-up to post-beach loungewear or humid nights out.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Regardless, somewhere in the early rounds, maybe even as high as round one, this Giants depth chart screams a major need for a promising and plug-and-play corner.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Freight House building creaks and moans underfoot, and passing trains produce little more than a subtle hum.—
Nicole Letts,
Southern Living,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Back in the car, Albert moans and groans while Billie shrieks in panic.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
My gut, which is enormously large, grumbles that coach Ime Udoka may want to continue trotting out length and size when everyone’s healthy, which would relegate Sheppard back to a reserve role.—
Stan Son,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Notice who stands to applaud your wins and who grumbles.—
Magi Helena,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
China holds Tibet without noticeable bother, commits crimes against its Uyghur Muslim minority with impunity, launches acts of aggression against its neighbors in the South China Sea, and growls off any court or tribunal that looks askance—which few do.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
2 Mar. 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Complains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complains. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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