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 Adrian complains that McElwee, instead of making documentaries, should have followed the lucrative path of a Hollywood director, and even reproaches him for having turned down an offer to make a TV commercial. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 10 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 The document complains about trade, customs officers, juryless courts, and judges’ salaries. — Joseph Thorndike, Forbes.com, 29 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 But one recent review complains about Umi’s policy of serving only two sushi rolls at a time per table, depending on group size. — Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 24 June 2026 But today nobody complains about the cost of his castles. — Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 8 June 2026 Never says a word, never complains about it, right? — Anderson Cooper, CBS News, 17 May 2026 Anushka complains about the agreement that asks users to accept 97 pages of terms and conditions in 7-point font, but these guys don’t even see themselves as car manufacturers. — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 10 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complains
  1. whines
  2. screams
  3. moans
  4. mutters
  5. grumbles
  6. growls
Verb
  • The snippet ends just as the cat whines and tucks its head beneath the barrier, not far from the officer filming the scene.
    — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026
  • Jessie whines about the good old days all the time — how fun is that?
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
Definition of whines
Verb
  • Another resident spoke of downloading a smartphone app to track decibel levels throughout the day, intending to document the noise of the coaster screams and report any violations.
    — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2026
  • Pink grapefruit and blood orange accompany tangerine in creating a citrus-forward scent that just screams summertime fun.
    — Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 23 July 2026
Definition of screams
Verb
  • Musselwhite punctuated the music with his harmonica trills and moans while his right knee bounced in time with the rhythms.
    — Kevin McKeough, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 2026
  • As the video continues, one person can be heard yelling her name while the makeup artist moans in pain.
    — Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 21 May 2026
Definition of moans
Verb
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of mutters
Verb
  • 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
  • Your 12th House of Inner Worlds hums as the Moon grumbles at combative Mars in your philosophical 9th house, making private worries flare when big debates start circling.
    — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 24 Mar. 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

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complains
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Cite this Entry

“Complains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complains. Accessed 28 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of complains for Spanish Speakers

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