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View synonyms for

complain

[kuhm-pleyn]

verb (used without object)

  1. to express dissatisfaction, pain, uneasiness, censure, resentment, or grief; find fault.

    He complained constantly about the noise in the corridor.

    Antonyms:
  2. to tell of one's pains, ailments, etc..

    to complain of a backache.

  3. to make a formal accusation.

    If you think you've been swindled, complain to the police.



complain

/ əˈɪ /

verb

  1. to express resentment, displeasure, etc, esp habitually; grumble

  2. (foll by of) to state the presence of pain, illness, etc, esp in the hope of sympathy

    she complained of a headache

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • complainable adjective
  • complainer noun
  • complainingly adverb
  • uncomplained adjective
  • uncomplaining adjective
  • uncomplainingly adverb
  • dzˈԾԲ adverb
  • dzˈԱ noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of complain1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English compleinen, from Anglo-French compleign-, stem of compleindre, Old French complaindre, from Vulgar Latin complangere (unrecorded), from Latin com- com- + plangere “to beat, lament, strike”; plaint
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Word History and Origins

Origin of complain1

C14: from Old French complaindre, from Vulgar Latin complangere (unattested), from Latin com- (intensive) + plangere to bewail
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Idioms and Phrases

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Synonym Study

Complain, grumble, growl, whine are terms for expressing dissatisfaction or discomfort. To complain is to protest against or lament a wrong: to complain about high prices. To grumble is to utter ill-natured complaints half to oneself: to grumble about the service. Growl may express more anger than grumble : to growl in reply to a question. To whine is to complain in a meanspirited way, using a nasal tone: to whine like a coward, like a spoiled child.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Leclerc spent much of the race complaining about the team's strategy choices.

From

Madeleine Stone, senior advocacy officer at the civil liberties campaign group Big Brother Watch, said they had been contacted by more than 35 people who have complained of being wrongly placed on facial recognition watchlists.

From

Some parents are understood to have complained to the school that the queue was forcing their children onto the road.

From

Business owners also regularly complain about the throngs of people who use drugs day and night in the park.

From

Park said she’ll likely have to throw out some fresh food, but also didn’t feel she could complain much.

From

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complacentlycomplainant