1
as in whines
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment
a warning that if there were any more complaints, we were turning around and not going to the beach after all
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in objections
a feeling or declaration of disapproval or dissent
the condo development proceeded despite the complaints of the neighborhood residents
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in indictments
a formal claim of criminal wrongdoing against a person
filed a complaint in court
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in illnesses
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning
takes a slew of medicines for his many complaints
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 complaints
Back in 2018, there were complaints about the ads.
—
Elijah Westbrook,
CBS News,
24 June 2026
The breakdown came after years of increasingly frequent complaints about train delays and service interruptions.
—
ABC News,
24 June 2026
Some sketches even repeat the same complaints within the same sketch, rather than continue what, in theory, should be a never-ending laundry list of nagging social customs.
—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
24 June 2026
After all, what could the specific complaints of colonists in 1776 have to do with 2026?
—
Robert Parkinson,
The Conversation,
24 June 2026
The complaints say the districts are aware that outside-of-classroom work is essential to part-time faculty’s teaching effectiveness and subject them to evaluations for which that work is necessary.
—
Tarini Mehta,
Sacbee.com,
24 June 2026
In a four-month trial at three different federal prisons, more than a third of the complaints were granted.
—
Christie Thompson,
NPR,
17 June 2026
These are the kinds of landlords who don’t have huge teams — no management company to handle complaints, often no super for late-night plumbing issues.
—
Clio Chang,
Curbed,
17 June 2026
For years, Hologic didn’t report many of those complaints to the FDA despite federal law requiring them to tell the agency within 30 days, Bloomberg previously reported.
—
Annika Inampudi,
Fortune,
17 June 2026
Elijah Westbrook,
CBS News,
24 June 2026
The breakdown came after years of increasingly frequent complaints about train delays and service interruptions.
—
ABC News,
24 June 2026
Some sketches even repeat the same complaints within the same sketch, rather than continue what, in theory, should be a never-ending laundry list of nagging social customs.
—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
24 June 2026
After all, what could the specific complaints of colonists in 1776 have to do with 2026?
—
Robert Parkinson,
The Conversation,
24 June 2026
The complaints say the districts are aware that outside-of-classroom work is essential to part-time faculty’s teaching effectiveness and subject them to evaluations for which that work is necessary.
—
Tarini Mehta,
Sacbee.com,
24 June 2026
In a four-month trial at three different federal prisons, more than a third of the complaints were granted.
—
Christie Thompson,
NPR,
17 June 2026
These are the kinds of landlords who don’t have huge teams — no management company to handle complaints, often no super for late-night plumbing issues.
—
Clio Chang,
Curbed,
17 June 2026
For years, Hologic didn’t report many of those complaints to the FDA despite federal law requiring them to tell the agency within 30 days, Bloomberg previously reported.
—
Annika Inampudi,
Fortune,
17 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complaints
Noun
-
When Samuel Adams and others published a pamphlet of grievances in 1772, Ashley and other men in Sheffield embraced the cause.
-
One fan, wearing perhaps the only white Ecuador jersey in the stadium, loudly aired his grievances near the team bus after the conclusion of the game.
Noun
-
The judge also overruled any further objections from the defense regarding Blankenship’s testimony on the matter.
-
Despite those objections, the administration is expected to proceed with the transaction and formally notify Congress in the coming days.
Noun
-
In his four years as New York mayor, Eric Adams' administration was roiled by corruption probes that led to early-morning FBI searches, resignations of top officials and indictments that alleged a rampant culture of pay-to-play politics at the highest levels of City Hall.
-
County disputes grand jury’s timeline In a 20-page response submitted to Yolo Superior Court, county officials argued the grand jury completed its work before prosecutors unsealed felony indictments against eight people connected to Devastating Pyrotechnics and BlackStar Fireworks.
Noun
-
As of June 18, one death was linked to the cheese products, in addition to eight hospitalizations and nine illnesses, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recall report.
-
But these few species are devastating, causing some 700 million illnesses and 1 million deaths globally each year due to infections like malaria, dengue fever, Zika and West Nile virus.
Noun
-
The moans announced the doubt throughout Riviera’s 18th green amphitheater, a bowl full of thousands of fans unsure if the new guy could do it.
-
At the moment that B’Tselem says Hathaleen collapsed, the visuals are jostled but moans of pain can be heard.
Noun
-
The emphasis here is not on dynamics — this band just seems to roll from one moment to the next, entertainingly — but there are exceptions to that.
-
Qualifying public safety workers, like police and firefighters, with 403(b) plans are exceptions.
Noun
-
Prosecutors reopen case Pino was initially charged in August 2026 with three counts of careless boating, a minor misdemeanor carrying a minimum sentence of 60 days in county jail.
-
Sergio Isaac Insunza Sanchez faces counts of second degree murder and armed criminal action.
Noun
-
Scientists are particularly concerned about microplastics, bits no larger than a grain of rice that could trigger heart and brain diseases and other ailments, either by their mere presence in people or from toxic chemicals leaching out of the particles.
-
Interest in kratom surged in the last couple of years as users have reported consuming the compound in the form of a pill, powder or tea to treat various ailments.
Cite this Entry
“Complaints.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complaints. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
