complain

verb

kəm-ˈplān How to pronounce complain (audio)
Definition of complainnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of complain However, some did complain about the company's free shipping minimum and had issues with their orders being lost in transit. — Jamela Adam, USA Today, 3 July 2026 Conley complained of neck pain to first responders, who took him to Rhode Island Hospital, the police said. — Jack Perry, The Providence Journal, 3 July 2026 Also requested were documents related to a lawsuit, recently settled for $135,000, claiming Kramer had given an improper assessment of a property and retaliated against an employee who complained. — Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 7 July 2026 When another passenger complained that their semiautomatic handgun was missing from their luggage after a June 28 flight, FBI officials tracked an Apple AirTag moving with the weapon, ultimately leading them to Overton, per the outlet. — Sean Neumann, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for complain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complain
  1. scream
  2. whine
  3. moan
  4. grumble
  5. mutter
  6. worry
Verb
  • Police said that after the girl screamed, the video shows a man getting into his vehicle and driving away.
    — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 1 July 2026
  • The couple’s relationship began with a friendship bracelet and a podcast shout-out in July 2023, and by September Swift was screaming profanities in support of her new favorite football player.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 30 June 2026
Definition of scream
Verb
  • And that’s nothing to whine about.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 26 June 2026
  • Jessie whines about the good old days all the time — how fun is that?
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
Definition of whine
Verb
  • The call lasted for 12 excruciating minutes, as Adams moaned in pain.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 22 June 2026
  • Witnesses who observed those executions later shared unnerving, and, at times, horrific, accounts of inmates thrashing, moaning, or otherwise appearing to show signs of suffering after the nitrogen gas began to flow.
    — Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 11 June 2026
Definition of moan
Verb
  • The congresswoman, her staffer and I grumbled about how unpredictable the House schedule has been lately.
    — Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • Certain organizations, like the Baltimore Orioles, are notorious for never having enough arms, which can lead to grumbling from teams that do, like the Tampa Bay Rays.
    — Brittany Ghiroli, New York Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of grumble
Verb
  • Bat met ball and, under his breath, Astros manager Joe Espada muttered an expletive.
    — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 29 June 2026
  • In the shadows of the long-hut, the elders muttered among themselves—of portents and crops and weather and the storage of grain.
    — Maggie O’Farrell, Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
Definition of mutter
Verb
  • At 53%, most Americans worry AI could cost them or someone in their household a job, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released in June.
    — Rachel Barber, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • The 2025 outbreak was HPAI, and that’s the strain that continues to worry veterinarians and poultry scientists.
    — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026
Definition of worry

Browse Nearby Words

complacent
complain
complainant
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Complain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complain. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of complain for Spanish Speakers

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