COMPLAIN Synonyms: 67 Similar and Opposite Words

complain

verb

kəm-ˈplān

Definition of complain

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

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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 Players on both the men’s ATP and women’s WTA tours have long complained of the hectic playing schedule and called for reforms to ease the workload. — Will Barker, TheWeek, 17 Aug. 2026 Nearly all of them complained of teenagers on speedy electric bikes. — Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 17 Aug. 2026 Fans also complained about traffic, the size of the scoreboards and the audio. — Tim Graham, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026 Frustrated homeowners complained to city leaders for years and got nowhere. — Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for complain

Recent Examples of Synonyms for complain

Verb

She was awakened in the middle of the night by her barking dog and the sound of a woman screaming in the street.

— City News Service, Daily News, 19 Aug. 2026
Audio from her cousin's phone call to the Palestinian Red Crescent emergency service captured 15-year-old Layan describing the chaotic scene around her, amid the sound of gunfire and screaming, before the call dropped.

— Frank Andrews, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of scream

Verb

Hall wrote in his report that Hamilton lay down in the backseat of the police vehicle, moaning and not responding, prompting first responders to give him Narcan.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Aug. 2026
After the guards left, the man continued to moan; his cellmates called for a doctor.

— Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of moan

Verb

That’s when Way mutters the p-word — under his breath for plausible deniability, but certainly still with the intention of being heard, smirking at the sound of my laughter.

— Selome Hailu, Variety, 18 Aug. 2026
This was 1872, and the pious (and patronizing) commentators of the time muttered that Damien’s unvarnished personality was due to his simple farm upbringing in rural Belgium.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 July 2026

Definition of mutter

Verb

In Texas, lawmakers have been exploring a ban on foreign nationals using Texas surrogates – a move surrogacy experts worry could be the first step toward a statewide ban on the practice.

— Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
The Port of Los Angeles forklift driver was wearing a life vest and was floating away, out to sea -- cold, worried about sharks and drowning.

— Michele Gile, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of worry

Browse Nearby Words

complacent

complain

complainant

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“Complain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complain. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of complain

verb

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