as in to whine
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of complain
Hoffman went on to poke fun at the very idea of awards shows, all while complaining — in a running joke that continued throughout the evening — about not being paid for her hosting duties.
—
Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 6 June 2025
The driver of the Jeep complained of pain, while a woman riding in the Jeep suffered a broken leg, police said.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 June 2025
Among the injured were a woman who sustained a head injury, her two-year-old toddler who suffered bruises and a 59-year-old woman complaining of back pain, police said.
—Reuters, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
During this week’s debate, several lawmakers read letters from their constituents complaining about the costs of their electric bills.
—John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for complain
Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 6 June 2025
The driver of the Jeep complained of pain, while a woman riding in the Jeep suffered a broken leg, police said.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 June 2025
Among the injured were a woman who sustained a head injury, her two-year-old toddler who suffered bruises and a 59-year-old woman complaining of back pain, police said.
—Reuters, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
During this week’s debate, several lawmakers read letters from their constituents complaining about the costs of their electric bills.
—John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for complain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complain
Verb
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All due respect to a mature and talented actor, but Jason Schwartzman whines so well.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
12 June 2025
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At that moment, the brother and sister instantly intensified their whining, looking at one another without a tear in sight.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
3 June 2025
Verb
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Leonardo DiCaprio’s screaming to the top of his lungs.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
9 June 2025
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Throughout their time together, Cozart said Travis Decker would scream in the middle of the night, soak the bed and only get one or two hours of sleep.—
Megan Forrester,
ABC News,
6 June 2025
Verb
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There’s no point moaning without offering some kind of solution.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
12 May 2025
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Fire-Rescue Battalion Chief Erik Windsor said fire crews removed a manhole cover in the general area of the storm drain opening, inserted a powerful listening device and heard moaning.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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President Trump’s big birthday military parade is moving forward this Saturday evening despite divisions in the ranks and even some grumbling from Republican allies.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
11 June 2025
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Voices on the country's political right, meanwhile, have grumbled that the study is too little, and far too late.—
Ilan Berman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 June 2025
Verb
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Vic lowers his head to peer through the slot of visibility provided by the muttering dashboard defroster.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2025
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This is what many people are muttering to themselves after a weekend of protests that ended with chaos in downtown Sunday night.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
Verb
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During his imprisonment, Corby worries about whether his beloved wife, Emily, and their daughter, Maisie, can ever forgive him.—
Anita Snow,
Boston Herald,
13 June 2025
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But school officials across the country worry that making lawsuits easier to win will create a more adversarial relationship between parents and schools in the difficult negotiations needed to balance a student’s needs with a school’s limited resources.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
13 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Complain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complain. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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