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
Parents of students with disabilities have increasingly resorted to filing complaints with the state over their schools’ failure to educate their children, and most of the time, state investigators have agreed.
—
Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 8 Jan. 2026
MacLeod said many of the complaints his organization hears are like the Johnsons’ and involve third-party utility billing companies hired by landlords.
—Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 8 Jan. 2026
The commission also investigates complaints of discrimination and harassment, and looks into issues regarding employment, housing, education and credit.
—Tim McNicholas, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
Trump, however, apparently had no complaints, returning to Pennsylvania and the campaign trail last month to counter Democratic criticism related to his economic policies and cost-of-living concerns.
—Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 7 Jan. 2026
The commission received a flurry of complaints about soaring heating bills in 2023 and random power outages in metro Denver and on the Western Slope, prompting an investigation by the staff.
—Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 7 Jan. 2026
Then, Skydance committed to hiring an ombudsman to take complaints about the news division, days before the FCC gave the merger the greenlight.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
The previous complaints also allege that staff contributed to students developing eating disorders and additional health issues.
—Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
All of Bed Bath & Beyond’s complaints have contended that the carriers compounded the retailer’s operational and financial distress throughout the pandemic as shelves went empty and costs soared, ultimately leading to the company’s demise.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 6 Jan. 2026
Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 8 Jan. 2026
MacLeod said many of the complaints his organization hears are like the Johnsons’ and involve third-party utility billing companies hired by landlords.
—Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 8 Jan. 2026
The commission also investigates complaints of discrimination and harassment, and looks into issues regarding employment, housing, education and credit.
—Tim McNicholas, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
Trump, however, apparently had no complaints, returning to Pennsylvania and the campaign trail last month to counter Democratic criticism related to his economic policies and cost-of-living concerns.
—Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 7 Jan. 2026
The commission received a flurry of complaints about soaring heating bills in 2023 and random power outages in metro Denver and on the Western Slope, prompting an investigation by the staff.
—Judith Kohler, Denver Post, 7 Jan. 2026
Then, Skydance committed to hiring an ombudsman to take complaints about the news division, days before the FCC gave the merger the greenlight.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 7 Jan. 2026
The previous complaints also allege that staff contributed to students developing eating disorders and additional health issues.
—Natasha Dye, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
All of Bed Bath & Beyond’s complaints have contended that the carriers compounded the retailer’s operational and financial distress throughout the pandemic as shelves went empty and costs soared, ultimately leading to the company’s demise.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 6 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complaints
Noun
-
Holder’s prosecutorial discretion also raised objections.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Penn outbid a number of other suitors for the ESPN business, and the tie-up has faced objections from investors since the very beginning.—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The indictments mean those criminal cases skip the preliminary hearing phase and move straight to trial.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
7 Nov. 2025
-
But an all-white grand jury returned no indictments.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
That’s different that the crisis caused when formula produced by Abbott was linked to infant deaths and illnesses in 2022.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
-
For less severe illnesses, people will usually recover with rest and hydration.—
Maia Pandey,
jsonline.com,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
From Madagascar to Nepal, young people have been driving protests, their grievances specific to each nation but broadly tied to weariness with corruption, crime, opaque governance and evaporating economic opportunities.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Democrats held a marathon lunch meeting Tuesday, bordering on three hours, to hash out the options ahead of them, and air some grievances.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Smith maintained many of the gifts cited by Cannon fell under exceptions to the disclosure rules, including those governing charity event tickets and gifts for birthdays or holidays.—
Caelyn Pender,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Under that order, the government required citizens to turn in their gold in exchange for paper currency, although there were exceptions for jewelry, certain rare coins and small amounts for industrial use.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Nampa detectives eventually learned about Salat’s case in Ada County, where he originally was charged with three counts of lewd conduct with a child under 16, court records show.—
Rose Evans,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Gonzales faces 29 counts of child abandonment or endangerment and could be sentenced to a maximum of two years in prison if he’s convicted.—
Jim Vertuno,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But, Diabanté questions, isn’t a world without strife, oppression, war, famine, poverty and all other societal ailments what humans have been struggling for all along?—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The Heat had a few of its best players out because of injuries on Saturday, but a few others played through their ailments.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Stein’s bedroom adjoined the room where Dodge would visit her lover at night; kept awake by the murmurings and moans, Stein lit a candle and composed a portrait of her host.—
Via Scribner,
Literary Hub,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Most of these are held in a tent, from which loud, ecstatic moans can be heard for seemingly miles around.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
26 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Complaints.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complaints. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share