as in whines
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment
I would rather not listen to gripes about your latest disasters in the dating game
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in annoys
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts
constant complaints from the customers griped her to the point where she started snapping back
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in complains
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
her tendency to gripe constantly drove everyone away
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 gripes
Phil Hay, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2026
But the willingness to include more artists leaves critics’, viewers’, and performers’ existing Grammy gripes feeling particularly egregious.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
His gripes are reasonable given UCLA was the only Big Ten team to play five of its first seven conference games on the road – a stretch in which the Bruins went 4-3, with each of their losses coming away from Westwood.
—Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 23 Jan. 2026
This new season mostly sticks to the original premise—the host, Jonathan Goldstein, solves his guests’ unresolved gripes—but many of the episodes are themselves clear beneficiaries of the show’s hiatus.
—Benjamin Cannon, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2025
Minor gripes get blown out of proportion as the moon and Mercury clash.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 13 Nov. 2025
While addressing Prescott’s major gripes, Shah was forthright with his defence of the BBC’s response over the past three years.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 10 Nov. 2025
Margolick devotes much space to the writers’ quarrels, their gripes, their resentment of one another.
—David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
In fact, Trump’s gripes with Beijing were mostly limited to the amount of goods China purchased from the United States, and so much of his attention was spent on direct negotiations with Xi that tried to address the trade deficit.
—Mira Rapp-Hooper, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2025
Instead, Jaworski and Guzman focused on long-standing city gripes about the way the state distributes revenues to Chicago and other cities.
—David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
One of Ronaldo’s gripes seems to be that not all Saudi Pro League sides are treated equally.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2026
But the willingness to include more artists leaves critics’, viewers’, and performers’ existing Grammy gripes feeling particularly egregious.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
His gripes are reasonable given UCLA was the only Big Ten team to play five of its first seven conference games on the road – a stretch in which the Bruins went 4-3, with each of their losses coming away from Westwood.
—Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 23 Jan. 2026
This new season mostly sticks to the original premise—the host, Jonathan Goldstein, solves his guests’ unresolved gripes—but many of the episodes are themselves clear beneficiaries of the show’s hiatus.
—Benjamin Cannon, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2025
Minor gripes get blown out of proportion as the moon and Mercury clash.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 13 Nov. 2025
While addressing Prescott’s major gripes, Shah was forthright with his defence of the BBC’s response over the past three years.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 10 Nov. 2025
Margolick devotes much space to the writers’ quarrels, their gripes, their resentment of one another.
—David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
In fact, Trump’s gripes with Beijing were mostly limited to the amount of goods China purchased from the United States, and so much of his attention was spent on direct negotiations with Xi that tried to address the trade deficit.
—Mira Rapp-Hooper, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
Frequently, the two will play up the minor age difference, with Mescal rolling his eyes every time O’Connor gripes about something timely and trendy.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2025
Instead, Jaworski and Guzman focused on long-standing city gripes about the way the state distributes revenues to Chicago and other cities.
—David Greising, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gripes
Verb
-
One of its two young sibling protagonists, Amber (Bianca Belle), channels her feelings about the recent death of her mother into drawings of creatures born out of her troubled imagination, some of whom enact violence against the classmate who annoys her.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
1 Dec. 2025
-
There's just one thing about Claire Danes that annoys Matthew Rhys.—
Yamillah Hurtado,
PEOPLE,
22 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Every once in a while, a customer complains about the lascivious photos in the loo, but The Charles’ owners brush it off.—
Sarah Blaskovich,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
More funds would continue to be diverted to maintaining borrowing—something Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio often complains about.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Kiswani noted that outlets such as the New York Post have written about New Yorkers' complaints about the uptick in dog poop being left behind.—
MARIANA ALFARO THE WASHINGTON POST,
Arkansas Online,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Of the 10 complaints in 2025, Provost Rahul Shrivastav said one was substantiated, two are still being investigated and the rest were resolved, the student paper reported.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Travelers are advised to inspect hotel rooms upon arrival and use precautions like plastic bags or luggage liners to prevent bringing bed bugs home.—
Taryn White,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Check the head and base and foot of the bed, peeling back the top sheet to look for evidence on mattress covers, box springs, dust ruffles, and the headboard—and most importantly, the mattress seams and piping because bed bugs like to hide in cracks and crevices.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
25 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Yet, everything about the Detroit Red Wings captain and his complete game screams winner.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Nothing screams ‘yesterday’s man’ (or woman) like talking about kaizens and lean manufacturing.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But in response to such comments, which reveal grievances about class and celebrity privilege, others say that strangers really have no idea about another person’s net worth.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The couple famously aired their grievances with the royal family in a tell-all interview to Oprah Winfrey and a revealing Netflix series.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
One thing that bothers him, though, is the calls from GVA asking for cash to shore up financing on the underwater properties as loan rates skyrocketed and monthly debt servicing led to losses.—
Paul Flahive,
Austin American Statesman,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Most people are able to put the splint away once their plantar fasciitis no longer bothers them.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
At the moment that B’Tselem says Hathaleen collapsed, the visuals are jostled but moans of pain can be heard.—
Sam Metz,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The song eventually escalates into a lecherous, breathless, glittering climax of incandescent synthesizers and melodic moans—an erotic asphyxiation depicted as utterly glorious.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gripes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gripes. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
