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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complains
Verb
-
Bill Belichick’s resume screams one-way ticket to Canton, Ohio, but when he wasn’t voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, many were left flabbergasted on Tuesday night.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
28 Jan. 2026
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The 360-degree design also allowed for the crowd’s screams to echo and fill the entirety of the Kia Forum.—
Kristine Kwak,
Rolling Stone,
27 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 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
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And Paleo Dad grumbles but goes and picks up his spear.—
Inga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Sep. 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
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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 8 Feb. 2026.
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