as in whining
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
as in protesting
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of complaining
Alice Bennett, Travel + Leisure, 11 Sep. 2025
Miami is awful, and everyone should’ve known it the minute their players were complaining that their joint practice with the Bears was too tough.
—Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
After complaining of pain, Nelson continues, Dakar rinsed off the solution and gave her a fan to cool her face down.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025
Trump earlier this week said India had offered to cut its tariffs on American imports to zero, while complaining that the proposal had come too late in the negotiation.
—Priyanka Salve,anniek Bao, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2025
The polarising billionaire had spent only a few hours in prison upon his return from 15 years of self-exile in August 2023 before he was hospitalised after complaining of heart trouble and chest pains, prompting widespread scepticism and public outrage.
—Panarat Thepgumpanat, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
Nah — not very long later, Tony is referencing his Bond obsession, complaining about the generic name of the secret drone-control computer program everyone is battling for here.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 4 Sep. 2025
But everybody was complaining and asking for a hot one.
—Andy Wang, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Ekwonu, 24, went to the team facility last weekend complaining of stomach pain.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Adjective
In my experience as an outfitter, Altra has always been my go-to suggestion whenever a customer walks in complaining about foot problems.
—Alice Bennett, Travel + Leisure, 11 Sep. 2025
Miami is awful, and everyone should’ve known it the minute their players were complaining that their joint practice with the Bears was too tough.
—Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
After complaining of pain, Nelson continues, Dakar rinsed off the solution and gave her a fan to cool her face down.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 11 Sep. 2025
Trump earlier this week said India had offered to cut its tariffs on American imports to zero, while complaining that the proposal had come too late in the negotiation.
—Priyanka Salve,anniek Bao, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2025
The polarising billionaire had spent only a few hours in prison upon his return from 15 years of self-exile in August 2023 before he was hospitalised after complaining of heart trouble and chest pains, prompting widespread scepticism and public outrage.
—Panarat Thepgumpanat, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
Nah — not very long later, Tony is referencing his Bond obsession, complaining about the generic name of the secret drone-control computer program everyone is battling for here.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 4 Sep. 2025
But everybody was complaining and asking for a hot one.
—Andy Wang, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Ekwonu, 24, went to the team facility last weekend complaining of stomach pain.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complaining
Verb
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The cats kept them up each night with their incessant whining and scratching at their doors.—
Duaa Eldeib,
ProPublica,
10 Sep. 2025
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In lesser hands, such a question, especially from a young white male who plays guitar for a living, could come off as whining.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Cherry breaks a Champagne flute on her own head and runs out of the gallery, screaming that Laura attacked her.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
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Danielle recounted hearing screaming and people running in the chaotic aftermath of the shooting.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Julia says, dropping to all fours and moaning amid a pile of straw on the floor.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
5 Sep. 2025
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Ellis could be heard moaning and could be seen lying on the ground.—
Elena Santa Cruz,
AZCentral.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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He was also heard muttering expletives down the stretch, visibly battling the heat and pressure.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Aug. 2025
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That Longhorns fan muttering about Nietzsche was right after all.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
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University administrators should support tough professors and resist the temptation to placate grumbling undergraduates.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
9 Sep. 2025
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Some coaches at Chiefs practice had already been grumbling about the priorities of their third-round draft pick.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Patients often wait until the doctor is standing up to leave before blurting out their real concern, which is typically a sensitive or time-consuming problem, such as wanting to start birth control, having painful periods, or worrying about pregnancy or STDs.—
Dr. Jill Grimes,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
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Losing or leaving a job is already stressful enough without worrying about when your last paycheck will show up.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Complaining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complaining. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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