as in to whine
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
Trump cut off trade talks with the northern neighbor on June 27, complaining about Canada’s triple-digit tariffs on dairy products.
—
Bart Jansen, USA Today, 11 July 2025
Three days prior, 86-year-old Stevens had complained of chest pain and was admitted to a Nashville hospital.
—Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 11 July 2025
Some downtown residents have complained about advertisements that wrap apartment buildings, hotels and more — but the trolley wraps don’t seem to get the same complaints.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 July 2025
Generally, supporters aren’t that sympathetic to players at the highest level complaining about the idea that they’re being made to play too much football (as some of the replies to Kounde’s post on social media illustrated), largely because of their wages.
—Stuart James, New York Times, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for complain
Bart Jansen, USA Today, 11 July 2025
Three days prior, 86-year-old Stevens had complained of chest pain and was admitted to a Nashville hospital.
—Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 11 July 2025
Some downtown residents have complained about advertisements that wrap apartment buildings, hotels and more — but the trolley wraps don’t seem to get the same complaints.
—Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 July 2025
Generally, supporters aren’t that sympathetic to players at the highest level complaining about the idea that they’re being made to play too much football (as some of the replies to Kounde’s post on social media illustrated), largely because of their wages.
—Stuart James, New York Times, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for complain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complain
Verb
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Through it all, though, Soto didn’t whine or complain or let the pressure of the contract and expectations and big city bring him down along with his batting average.—
Mike Lupica,
New York Daily News,
28 June 2025
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Of course, some will whine that endless war and support for atrocities erode America’s values.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 June 2025
Verb
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Woman screams as snake attacks—dog jumps in and takes the venom for her The video highlighted the canine parents, with viewers instantly falling in love with the unique puppies.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 July 2025
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As Masha runs out after David, all the guests scream at the sight of Martin, sweaty and crazed, following them out with a rifle.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
2 July 2025
Verb
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Now-tired 2010 fads that Lorde pioneered, including bittersweet tropical-pop textures and moaning vocal snippets, are everywhere.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
27 June 2025
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After one season, he was forcefully rejected by the community, which moaned to the press (and the local police) that the tranquil pondside inn was becoming a celebrity- and influencer-infested late-night party spot just like his club in the city.—
Brock Colyar,
Curbed,
24 June 2025
Verb
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Liberal Democrats have been grumbling about Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont for more than a year regarding his opposition to tax hikes on Connecticut’s richest residents and blocking more wide-scale loosening of the state’s fiscal guardrails to allow more spending for progressive priorities.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
29 June 2025
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Sarah Stier / Getty Images Could Bailey grumble at first?—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
26 June 2025
Verb
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Before immediately snapping, sighing loudly, or muttering a passive-aggressive comment, try pausing to consider what else might be going on first: Maybe your barista’s slammed with 10 other complicated orders, for instance, or your housemate had a brutal week at work.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
17 June 2025
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McMurtry muttering bone-dry jokes at the end of the world.—
Philip Martin,
Arkansas Online,
26 June 2025
Verb
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Democrats and Republicans are working together on three bills to protect children from inappropriate material and data mining on the internet, and that worries Marilyn Rodriguez.—
Ray Stern,
AZCentral.com,
7 July 2025
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On account of its relative remoteness--sat between Scotland 200 miles to the south and Iceland 400 miles to the north--the Faroe Islands hasn’t had to worry about over-tourism too much.—
Brad Japhe,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Complain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complain. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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