as in protesting
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Dissimilar Words
as in whining
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
the time-honored tradition of new recruits complaining about the food in the mess hall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of complaining
Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
Jim Defede, CBS News, 17 May 2026
Follow these mowing etiquette tips to avoid being the one that your neighbors are complaining about on Reddit.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 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
My dad is always complaining about November because all the leaves come off the trees.
—AFAR Media, 15 May 2026
Nelson said the friend said Damas had been complaining of a toothache and received ibuprofen from a nurse at the detention facility.
—Suzanne Gamboa, NBC news, 15 May 2026
For example, don’t spend the entire conversation complaining about a past boss who denied your PTO request, McGoff says.
—Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 13 May 2026
So while the league wanted officials to crack down on excessive physicality, players and coaches are already complaining that games are turning into whistle fests.
—Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2026
Adjective
An energy vampire has bad body language, the complaining look on their face, the vocal complainer.
—Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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
Follow these mowing etiquette tips to avoid being the one that your neighbors are complaining about on Reddit.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 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
My dad is always complaining about November because all the leaves come off the trees.
—AFAR Media, 15 May 2026
Nelson said the friend said Damas had been complaining of a toothache and received ibuprofen from a nurse at the detention facility.
—Suzanne Gamboa, NBC news, 15 May 2026
For example, don’t spend the entire conversation complaining about a past boss who denied your PTO request, McGoff says.
—Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 13 May 2026
So while the league wanted officials to crack down on excessive physicality, players and coaches are already complaining that games are turning into whistle fests.
—Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complaining
Adjective
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The death toll includes at least 19 children, 21 non-protesting civilians, and 165 in government or security forces.—
The Hill,
The Hill,
17 Jan. 2026
-
Among the dead were 13 children and 14 non-protesting civilians, HRANA said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Last week, the whining noise of unmanned flying objects could be heard in the city of Moscow once again.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
11 May 2026
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Luke's demise and Boyega's whining about the Black stormtrooper weren't the only reasons Disney's three movies failed.—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Her father and cousin had come looking for her, and were screaming outside.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
19 May 2026
-
Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong let a rival fan have it during a heated, NSFW screaming match on Sunday, playing the White Sox.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
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There are kerfuffles down at the hardware store, and a moaning moose makes his presence known near the motel where Ulysses is staying.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
17 Apr. 2026
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But a male voice could be heard moaning in the background.—
Tim Stelloh,
NBC news,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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From a long-quiet wingman who dispensed with six years of muttering under his breath and spoke with a cold-blooded certainty that announced his arrival as a force to be reckoned with.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
1 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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Reddit commenters are grumbling about the no-bag policy, though many seem to accept it as the price of a global festival in 2026.—
Steven Blum,
HollywoodReporter,
12 May 2026
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Their big-fish hunting left their stomachs grumbling.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Verb
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The economy is struggling, people are frustrated about internet disruptions and frequent Ukrainian attacks against targets deep inside the country are worrying some people.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
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But that hasn’t stopped out-of-state reenactors from worrying their muskets will be confiscated at the George Washington Bridge, says Justin Costantino, adjutant of the Long Island Companies of the 3rd New York Regiment.—
Allen G. Breed,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Complaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complaining. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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