as in to scream
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
Numerous tenants complained of going days without hot water during the most severe cold snap of the winter, and photos from the complex show sheets of ice on some walls and a ceiling collapsed on cars in a garage.
—
Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 7 Feb. 2026
Luigi Mangione complained about double jeopardy in a courtroom outburst on Friday about the prospect of back-to-back trials in the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
—Rachel Wolf , Maria Paronich , Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Several players complained about the scheme once the season started and the inability of defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus to make adjustments more quickly.
—Dallas Morning News, 6 Feb. 2026
The action comes as the legal gambling industry has been complaining that the state’s new per-wager tax on sports betting is driving gamblers to unlicensed websites.
—Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for complain
Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 7 Feb. 2026
Luigi Mangione complained about double jeopardy in a courtroom outburst on Friday about the prospect of back-to-back trials in the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
—Rachel Wolf , Maria Paronich , Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Several players complained about the scheme once the season started and the inability of defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus to make adjustments more quickly.
—Dallas Morning News, 6 Feb. 2026
The action comes as the legal gambling industry has been complaining that the state’s new per-wager tax on sports betting is driving gamblers to unlicensed websites.
—Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for complain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complain
Verb
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The work that doesn’t scream the loudest internally but decides who wins externally.—
Erik Huberman,
Rolling Stone,
11 Feb. 2026
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Vonn was heard screaming in pain while lying in the snow before she was airlifted off the course.—
Rohan Nadkarni,
NBC news,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But students who are spending their time protesting, whining about the grading system and seeking easy classes don’t seem to fit that mold.—
Mitch Zimmer,
Washington Post,
3 Feb. 2026
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The children jumped for joy after winning a game of cornhole; others fell and whined in defeat, but got up to play again.—
Christopher Buchanan,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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While Slot was moaning about having to play two away matches in four days (and about missing a couple of key players), Emery, also without important figures such as Boubacar Kamara, was overseeing his Villa side playing the same tough schedule and win both games without conceding a goal.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
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The austerity gives her plenty of room to writhe, mug, and moan between occasional shots of an inflatable Martian and a tropical-looking Tiffany lamp.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile Isom is also facing grumbling over his leadership and the company’s performance from another union, the Allied Pilots Association.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
10 Feb. 2026
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The 59-year-old grumbled that gladhanding throngs of supporters in dusty villages had left him prey to bugs and viruses.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The volume has gone up again since Ruben Amorim’s recent departure, muttering darkly about Gary Neville’s outside influence in particular.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
17 Jan. 2026
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The older lady who was muttering to herself in casting is there.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Pentagon worries that an expanding Chinese arsenal could be a prelude to invading Taiwan or an attempt to beat America's missile defenses, Panda said.—
Geoff Brumfiel,
NPR,
11 Feb. 2026
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Other recent departures underscore the tension between some researchers worried about safety and top executives eager to generate revenue.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complain. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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