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
The driver, who is not identified or charged, also complained of symptoms tied to mercury exposure.
—
Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2025
Now, at full boil, travelers are increasingly complaining about an unreasonable lack of legroom and other basic comforts.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 1 May 2025
Williams has also reportedly complained about the media presence in the Yankees' clubhouse, which surely is a lot different from his days in Milwaukee.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Californians complain about this stuff all the time.
—Justin Kloczko, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for complain
Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2025
Now, at full boil, travelers are increasingly complaining about an unreasonable lack of legroom and other basic comforts.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 1 May 2025
Williams has also reportedly complained about the media presence in the Yankees' clubhouse, which surely is a lot different from his days in Milwaukee.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Californians complain about this stuff all the time.
—Justin Kloczko, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for complain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complain
Verb
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Any dog breed can exhibit signs of jealousy, which may include getting in between their owner and another pet, whining, barking, or growling when their owner pays another pet or person attention.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 May 2025
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Construction equipment whines as workers erect towering bleachers in a downtown park.—
Stephanie Yang,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Apr. 2025
Verb
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People could be heard screaming and crying in the video, which appeared to show several people injured on the ground and baggage strewn about, as first responders attended to the scene.—
Lex Harvey,
CNN Money,
4 May 2025
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Her lawyers and family members also celebrated by screaming and hugging each other, per a video from the courtroom.—
Caroline Blair,
People.com,
3 May 2025
Verb
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But the Francophone descriptor fails to conjure the dust her voice kicks up, the grit and moan that hang in the air after each song.—
Carrie Brownstein,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2025
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Having been browbeaten by the negativity of previous coaches Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, having a manager who didn't dismiss the idea the team could be title challengers or moan about a lack of talent was refreshing.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
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There is already some grumbling that the G League has been hollowed out by the creation of a third two-way spot, and that was during a period when more talent was reaching the league.—
Mike Vorkunov,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
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Traditionalists aligned with Pope Benedict grumbled about theological ambiguity, accusing Francis of sowing confusion rather than clarity.—
Jeetendr Sehdev,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Verb
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He is made, late in the show, to feign a seizure in a moment that doesn’t land, and the blocking of his final scene, in which the actor mutters to the ceiling while lying on his back, similarly thuds.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
24 Mar. 2025
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Victoria barely muttered a word to Kate, who approached the Ratliffs during a meal, making the exchange extra awkward.—
Alli Rosenbloom,
CNN Money,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Long term, some economists worry the back-and-forth on tariffs could strain relationships between the U.S. and its trading partners.—
Bailey Schulz,
USA Today,
9 May 2025
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Yet threats to use nuclear weapons from Russia and North Korea, and even from the U.S. president, have worried many.—
Alan Robock,
Scientific American,
8 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Complain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complain. Accessed 18 May. 2025.
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