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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Recent Examples of complain
People who live near data centers also complain about noise pollution from the cooling systems data centers use for their computers, which sometimes produce a humming noise.
—
Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 16 May 2026
People were complaining about people cutting in lines, but are people blaming Walmart for the line outside at a Black Friday sale?
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 16 May 2026
During the summer of 2025, Alana McArthur's youngest son, Carter, started complaining about pain in his left leg that would often come and go.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026
Cassidy complained Friday that the new primary system enacted last year was confusing voters by requiring them to ask for a partisan ballot instead of the previous all-party primary that had been in place.
—ABC News, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for complain
Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 16 May 2026
People were complaining about people cutting in lines, but are people blaming Walmart for the line outside at a Black Friday sale?
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 16 May 2026
During the summer of 2025, Alana McArthur's youngest son, Carter, started complaining about pain in his left leg that would often come and go.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026
Cassidy complained Friday that the new primary system enacted last year was confusing voters by requiring them to ask for a partisan ballot instead of the previous all-party primary that had been in place.
—ABC News, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for complain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complain
Verb
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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
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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
Verb
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Coach Arne Slot moaned about VAR but his problems lie much closer to home.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
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The score by Joseph Bishara is shivery with chorales that moan like wraiths in the wind.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
If the conditions are right, and the cap breaks, that unstable air will create ferocious, snarling supercells that grumble and crackle with energy.—
Emily Holshouser
May 19,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
19 May 2026
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The two-time Masters champion spun, glared at the spectator, grumbled under his breath and seemed to point out the person to security.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
Verb
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Across the game, the crowd raged with injustice and annoyance at a refereeing performance Bayern supporters will mutter about for years.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
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On Tuesday, cameras caught Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing muttering something after looking back at the Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee, who was in discomfort after an awkward slide at home plate.—
Bill Shaikin,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Plus, pet owners like myself will appreciate not having to worry about our animals being around pesticides.—
Jeaneen Russell,
PEOPLE,
20 May 2026
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The band isn’t worried about label expectations or pleasing mainstream audiences.—
Maya Georgi,
Rolling Stone,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complain. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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