as in cramps
abdominal pain especially when focused in the digestive organs
eating too many apples will give you a bellyache
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to complain
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
tired of the kids bellyaching every time they're asked to mow the lawn or take out the trash
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bellyache
Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 3 Jan. 2026
The play then folds itself in half, like a man with a bellyache.
—Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 2 Oct. 2025
No place to stay Reaching San Antonio, Dieuvena, Banel and Matéo Sebastien slept at the airport, waiting for a flight to Boston, during which time the 4-year-old boy began complaining of a bellyache.
—Liam Reilly, CNN, 30 Apr. 2023
When Chrysler swallowed AMC, we flinty-eyed industry observers wondered if Lee Iacocca would end up with a bellyache.
—Larry Griffin, Car and Driver, 11 Apr. 2023
Just a sweet glide across the land, no bellyache from a jostle.
—Arkansas Online, 30 June 2021
Some adverse reactions to look out for can be diarrhea and bellyaches.
If your canine (and their stomach) loves the new snack, then great.
—Jackie Frere, Woman's Day, 2 Apr. 2019
The intersection between sports and pop culture in America has existed at least since Babe Ruth’s famous bellyache in 1925.
—Ken Belson, New York Times, 15 July 2016
Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 30 Apr. 2026
The phrase on the front led the group to burst into a bellyaching laughter.
—Kansas City Star, 24 Mar. 2026
So stop the bleating and bellyaching over Bronzeville.
—Colleen Kujawa, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
But alas, developers Game Freak have opted to improve the aesthetics just enough to skirt online bellyaching rather than making any attempt to wow fans.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2025
And the second major benefit to weekly recycling: People finally stop bellyaching about biweekly recycling.
—Dan Rodricks, Baltimore Sun, 8 Mar. 2024
Whereas Michael Myers paced calmly in a silly jumpsuit, Lewis bellyached in moody black outfits.
—Jason Zinoman, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024
DeSantis hasn’t ceased bellyaching about being outmaneuvered by Disney’s lawyers.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2023
All of us have cheated this way before and hopefully didn’t bellyache too loudly when we were called out for it.
—Don Yaeger, Forbes, 16 June 2021
Noun
These are the things that give Texas coach Sean Miller a bellyache, and the has been not uncommon this season.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 3 Jan. 2026
The play then folds itself in half, like a man with a bellyache.
—Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 2 Oct. 2025
No place to stay Reaching San Antonio, Dieuvena, Banel and Matéo Sebastien slept at the airport, waiting for a flight to Boston, during which time the 4-year-old boy began complaining of a bellyache.
—Liam Reilly, CNN, 30 Apr. 2023
When Chrysler swallowed AMC, we flinty-eyed industry observers wondered if Lee Iacocca would end up with a bellyache.
—Larry Griffin, Car and Driver, 11 Apr. 2023
Just a sweet glide across the land, no bellyache from a jostle.
—Arkansas Online, 30 June 2021
Some adverse reactions to look out for can be diarrhea and bellyaches.
If your canine (and their stomach) loves the new snack, then great.
—Jackie Frere, Woman's Day, 2 Apr. 2019
The intersection between sports and pop culture in America has existed at least since Babe Ruth’s famous bellyache in 1925.
—Ken Belson, New York Times, 15 July 2016
Verb
Public bellyaching sessions — sorry, hearings — have already begun, and the next ones will be held on May 2, 4, and 28.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 30 Apr. 2026
The phrase on the front led the group to burst into a bellyaching laughter.
—Kansas City Star, 24 Mar. 2026
So stop the bleating and bellyaching over Bronzeville.
—Colleen Kujawa, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
But alas, developers Game Freak have opted to improve the aesthetics just enough to skirt online bellyaching rather than making any attempt to wow fans.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 24 Sep. 2025
And the second major benefit to weekly recycling: People finally stop bellyaching about biweekly recycling.
—Dan Rodricks, Baltimore Sun, 8 Mar. 2024
Whereas Michael Myers paced calmly in a silly jumpsuit, Lewis bellyached in moody black outfits.
—Jason Zinoman, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024
DeSantis hasn’t ceased bellyaching about being outmaneuvered by Disney’s lawyers.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2023
All of us have cheated this way before and hopefully didn’t bellyache too loudly when we were called out for it.
—Don Yaeger, Forbes, 16 June 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bellyache
Noun
-
To complain about cramps was futile.—
Nami Mun,
The Atlantic,
16 May 2026
-
Menstrual cramps occur when the myometrium contracts to expel the uterine lining.—
Geri Stengel,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Cassidy also complained that a new primary system enacted last year confused voters by requiring them to ask for a partisan ballot instead of the all-party primary previously in place.—
Thomas Beaumont,
Fortune,
17 May 2026
-
So, what Rodriguez and Cohen Higgins are complaining about is what happens four and five years or even ten years down the line.—
Jim DeFede,
CBS News,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Salmonella usually means diarrhea, fever and stomachaches for a few days.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
6 May 2026
-
But that road can be longer when an ailment isn’t as visible—a string of mysterious stomachaches or sporadic painful migraines are more difficult to explain.—
Brianne Kane,
Scientific American,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Bringing up the video stops Kyle in his tracks, and his reaction screams guilt.—
Marlow Stern,
Variety,
20 May 2026
-
As the good Samaritans tried in vain to reach her, Gocaj could be heard screaming.—
New York Daily News,
Boston Herald,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Aronimink put the world’s best golfers in a vice this week and squeezed the whines right out of them.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
18 May 2026
-
Traffic hummed and whined on I-85.—
Thomas Lake,
AJC.com,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bellyache.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bellyache. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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