as in whines
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 complains
Kane often complains on social media that state gaming laws were constructed with traditional sportsbooks in mind, a process that failed to conceptualize exchanges.
—
Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 4 Feb. 2026
Other conversations sound quaint, like one where a bot complains about its human, while some are bizarre, such as one from a bot that claims to have a sister.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026
People tend to get involved once a problem becomes visible – when a price looks wrong, a transaction is flagged or a customer complains.
—Murugan Anandarajan, The Conversation, 22 Jan. 2026
In any work setting, there’s a person who sits around the table and complains about what’s wrong with the company, and then, when the boss walks in, that same person is over there pouring coffee, quiet as a church mouse.
—Willie Colon, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2026
Annalise, the most ill-natured guest to embark on the Bravado since the legendary Carlos, complains about the absence of truffles (not in season) on her pasta.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 20 Jan. 2026
Trump complains often that both rooms are too small.
—Darlene Superville, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2025
Instead of examining the fate of the world, Xiu Mei (Sharon Gee) complains about a stray giraffe eating all the leaves off her tree.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Dec. 2025
Our book—Anna was the translator—includes me as one of the characters; there’s even a passage where my mother complains about me as a teenager.
—Literary Hub, 18 Dec. 2025
Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 4 Feb. 2026
Other conversations sound quaint, like one where a bot complains about its human, while some are bizarre, such as one from a bot that claims to have a sister.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026
People tend to get involved once a problem becomes visible – when a price looks wrong, a transaction is flagged or a customer complains.
—Murugan Anandarajan, The Conversation, 22 Jan. 2026
In any work setting, there’s a person who sits around the table and complains about what’s wrong with the company, and then, when the boss walks in, that same person is over there pouring coffee, quiet as a church mouse.
—Willie Colon, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2026
Annalise, the most ill-natured guest to embark on the Bravado since the legendary Carlos, complains about the absence of truffles (not in season) on her pasta.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 20 Jan. 2026
Trump complains often that both rooms are too small.
—Darlene Superville, Los Angeles Times, 31 Dec. 2025
Instead of examining the fate of the world, Xiu Mei (Sharon Gee) complains about a stray giraffe eating all the leaves off her tree.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Dec. 2025
Our book—Anna was the translator—includes me as one of the characters; there’s even a passage where my mother complains about me as a teenager.
—Literary Hub, 18 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complains
Verb
-
On paper, Proctor screams Eagles.—
Zach Berman,
New York Times,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Vonn lost control within moments of leaving the start house, clipping a gate with her right shoulder and pinwheeling down the slope before ending up awkwardly on her back, her skis crisscrossed below her and her screams ringing out soon after medical personnel arrived.—
ANDREW DAMPF,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Fennell begins on a black screen and the sound of creaks and moans.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Shannon moans right about the time Jenn walks out to see what the commotion is all about.—
Peter Larsen,
Oc Register,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Your dad mutters for head movement, for cage cutting, for not playing off the back and creating distance.—
Matthew Shen Goodman,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
And perhaps some—Ho Jin just barks at him to take it all and grumbles that Ji Seon is a bad influence.—
Hannah Abraham,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
And Paleo Dad grumbles but goes and picks up his spear.—
Inga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
And as the person behind the camera approaches the pit bull, the dog growls and barks while standing in a fearful crouch.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
15 Dec. 2025
-
Sturridge crows and growls his lines, rolling his torso and crouching to crawl on his knuckles like a young silverback.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
14 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Complains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complains. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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