Definition of complainantnext
as in plaintiff
the person in a legal proceeding who makes a charge of wrongdoing against another the complainant charged that the defendant had broken the ironclad contract that both had signed

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Example Sentences

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 complainant One anonymous complainant told the department that an elderly man had nearly drowned in the pool and was taken to a hospital. Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 10 Aug. 2026 The complainant alleged that the driver of a minivan had pointed a firearm at them a few towns over. Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2026 The complainant, who was not identified in the initial case report, said Celeste was attacked by a dog and dragged through the woods. Rafael Escalera Montoto, Arkansas Online, 5 Aug. 2026 None of the six complainants can be identified for legal reasons. ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for complainant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complainant
plaintiff
Noun
  • That rule gave plaintiffs a chance to sue again, and Talwani on Thursday night issued a 14-day restraining order against implementation of the measure.
    Nicholas Riccardi, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • So far, none of the 12 state plaintiffs have withdrawn from the lawsuit as California Attorney General Rob Bonta proceeds to trial.
    David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 1 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Complainant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complainant. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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