Synonyms for complain
kəmˈpleɪncom·plain

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:2.0 / 1 vote

1. complainverb

   Synonyms:
   kvetch, whinge, grouse, moan, whine, bitch, gripe, beef, grumble, grump

2. complainverb

   To express feelings of pain, dissatisfaction, or resentment.

   Joe was always complaining about the noise made by his neighbours.

   Synonyms:
   bitch, kvetch, grump, grumble, whinge, moan, gripe, grouse, whine, beef

3. complainverb

   To make a formal accusation or bring a formal charge.

   They've complained about me to the police again.

   Synonyms:
   kvetch, grumble, whinge, gripe, whine, moan, beef, bitch, grouse, grump

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:2.5 / 4 votes

1. complain

   To complain is to give utterance to dissatisfaction or objection, express a sense of wrong or ill treatment. One complains of a real or assumed grievance; he may murmur through mere peevishness or ill temper; he repines, with vain distress, at the irrevocable or the inevitable. Complaining is by speech or writing; murmuring is commonly said of half-repressed utterance; repining of the mental act alone. One may complain of an offense to the offender or to others; he remonstrates with the offender only. Complain has a formal and legal meaning, which the other words have not, signifying to make a formal accusation, present a specific charge; the same is true of the noun complaint.

   Synonyms:
   croak, find fault, growl, grumble, grunt, murmur, remonstrate, repine

   Antonyms:
   applaud, approve, commend, eulogize, laud, praise

   Preposition:
   Complain of a thing to a person; of one person to another, of or against a person for an act; to an officer; before the court; about a thing.

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. complain, kick, plain, sound off, quetch, kvetchverb

   express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness

   "My mother complains all day"; "She has a lot to kick about"

   Synonyms:
   recoil, plain, kvetch, quetch, give up, kick, strike up, kick back, animadvert, speak out, sound off, opine, speak up

   Antonyms:
   chirk up, cheer up, cheer

2. complainverb

   make a formal accusation; bring a formal charge

   "The plaintiff's lawyer complained that he defendant had physically abused his client"

   Synonyms:
   kick, kvetch, plain, sound off, quetch

   Antonyms:
   cheer, chirk up, cheer up

Matched Categories

1. • Charge

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. complainverb

   Synonyms:
   murmur, lament, bewail, grumble, croak, find fault

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. complainverb

   Synonyms:
   murmur, repine, grumble, whine, croak

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "complain":

   complaint, bemoan, moan, protest

How to pronounce complain?

How to say complain in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use complain in a sentence?

1. Lily Tomlin:

   I personally think we developed language because of our deep need to complain.

2. Ronald Firbank:

   The world is disgracefully managed one hardly knows to whom to complain.

3. Ziggy:

   You can complain because roses have thorns, or you can rejoice because thorns have roses.

4. I Ching:

   No plain not followed by a slope. No going not followed by a return. He who remains persevering in danger is without blame. Do not complain about this truth Enjoy the good fortune you still possess.

5. Hannah Ferguson:

   It was pretty strict growing up, but I mean, I can't complain. But I think me and my siblings - I'm one of five - we've turned out pretty well. i would always flip through them and look at them and daydream about one day being able to do that. I never thought it would come true.