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
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Recent Examples of complains
And also on Untucked… • Discord complains about Nini being in the top basically all episode, while other queens like Jane try to kindly not get down in the mud with her.
—
Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 3 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
Our book—Anna was the translator—includes me as one of the characters; there’s even a passage where my mother complains about me as a teenager.
—Literary Hub, 18 Dec. 2025
Despite the chaos, Valdez never complains.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 26 Nov. 2025
Yasmin, eight months pregnant, complains of back pain almost constantly.
—Ahmed Naji, The Dial, 18 Nov. 2025
At one point, Hujar complains about a call from the artist Ed Baynard.
—Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
In addition, Alabama complains that the Times gave the school only four hours to respond to the story before it was published; this also coincided with the team getting ready to start the tournament.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 14 Oct. 2025
Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 3 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
Our book—Anna was the translator—includes me as one of the characters; there’s even a passage where my mother complains about me as a teenager.
—Literary Hub, 18 Dec. 2025
Despite the chaos, Valdez never complains.
—Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 26 Nov. 2025
Yasmin, eight months pregnant, complains of back pain almost constantly.
—Ahmed Naji, The Dial, 18 Nov. 2025
At one point, Hujar complains about a call from the artist Ed Baynard.
—Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
In addition, Alabama complains that the Times gave the school only four hours to respond to the story before it was published; this also coincided with the team getting ready to start the tournament.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 14 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complains
Verb
-
George Oliver Floating Fluted Nightstands There’s something about a pair of floating nightstands that just screams luxury, and this set is no exception.—
Brittney Morgan,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The Kings are still in the playoff picture and the Pacific Division race, even with a season that screams mediocrity.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Shannon moans right about the time Jenn walks out to see what the commotion is all about.—
Peter Larsen,
Oc Register,
10 Oct. 2025
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
-
And Paleo Dad grumbles but goes and picks up his spear.—
Inga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Sep. 2025
-
One grumbles when the driver rants about development’s ravages.—
Mark Ellwood,
Robb Report,
10 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
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 19 Jan. 2026.
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