as in plaintiff
the person in a legal proceeding who makes a charge of wrongdoing against another
the complainant charged that the defendant had broken the ironclad contract that both had signed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 complainant
The consent decree says complainants must file a single affidavit, signed by one UAW member and one person serving as the notary, with the charges listed.
—
Liam Rappleye, Freep.com, 10 Sep. 2025
He has been instructed not to contact the complainant.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 10 Sep. 2025
Any discussion about the case between the complainant's son and his father could have put the monarch in a difficult legal position.
—Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025
The shopping center's owner, Haidar Barbouti, is listed as the complainant.
—Doc Louallen, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for complainant
Liam Rappleye, Freep.com, 10 Sep. 2025
He has been instructed not to contact the complainant.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 10 Sep. 2025
Any discussion about the case between the complainant's son and his father could have put the monarch in a difficult legal position.
—Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025
The shopping center's owner, Haidar Barbouti, is listed as the complainant.
—Doc Louallen, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for complainant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complainant
plaintiff
Noun
-
The psychological scars of the shooting are still fresh and painful, the plaintiff said.—
Gary Grumbach,
NBC news,
30 Oct. 2025
-
The order applies to federal employees in programs or offices where the plaintiff unions have members or bargaining units.—
The NPR Network,
NPR,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Complainant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complainant. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share