complaint

noun

kəm-ˈplānt How to pronounce complaint (audio)
Definition of complaintnext
1
as in grievance
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment a warning that if there were any more complaints, we were turning around and not going to the beach after all

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2
as in objection
a feeling or declaration of disapproval or dissent the condo development proceeded despite the complaints of the neighborhood residents

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3
as in indictment
a formal claim of criminal wrongdoing against a person filed a complaint in court

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4
as in disease
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning takes a slew of medicines for his many complaints

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 complaint The museum’s statement lists the same personal information identified in the complaint as having been compromised, and added that categories of data varied across individuals. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 26 Aug. 2026 Carter faces attempted murder charges in which the two deputies and the PG&E worker are listed as victims injured in the shooting, according to the criminal complaint filed by the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office. — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 26 Aug. 2026 The complaint echoed a similar objection from Kardal Coleman, who leads the Democratic Party in big-city Dallas County. — Will Weissert, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026 The coalition argues in its complaint that the rule exceeds USPS’ statutory authority, violates the Voting Rights Act and intrudes on states’ constitutional power to administer elections. — Luke Fountain, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for complaint
Recent Examples of Synonyms for complaint
  1. grievance
  2. objection
  3. indictment
  4. disease
  5. whine
  6. exception
  7. count
  8. ailment
Noun
  • Group chats have—rightfully—earned a reputation as containers for gossips or for the airing of grievances that someone might not want to fully offer out loud to the public, and mine are not absent those things, from time to time.
    — Hanif Abdurraqib, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Many readers — some likely joking — shared their grievances with Elmo.
    — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of grievance
Noun
  • The sale has drawn objections from the flight attendants union and a software firm that says some of the data isn’t Spirit’s to sell.
    — Jeff Kleinma, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Collins, Scott, and Whitmer spent much of the past year and a half framing their objections as cautionary.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of objection
Noun
  • The move renders the original indictment that had been the subject of grand jury issues legally obsolete — though the judge could still opt to dig into any alleged wrongdoing.
    — Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Most of the fifteen people named in the June 16th indictment have been released and are awaiting trial.
    — Emily Witt, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of indictment
Noun
  • But rates of cardiac disease have fallen in recent years, as the medical community pivots to managing cholesterol levels, hypertension and diabetes—all risk factors for heart disease.
    — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The administration said 80% of insurers pledged changes to preauthorization requirements for 80% of diseases and injuries by January 2026.
    — Stephanie Armour, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of disease
Noun
  • Meanwhile, turbo noise fills the cabin alongside the odd electric motor whine.
    — Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • That is, until you are subjected to the relentless whine of mosquitoes.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 30 June 2026
Definition of whine
Noun
  • With rare exceptions, EV sound is little more than an affectation.
    — Byron Hurd, The Drive, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Washington had carved out exceptions for itself and some European countries to buy Russian oil, and the Biden administration had even encouraged India to buy Russian oil under a price cap as part of a plan to stabilize the global oil market.
    — C. Raja Mohan, Foreign Affairs, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of exception
Noun
  • Clancy, 36, is charged with three counts of first-degree murder related to the strangling deaths of her children Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8 months.
    — James Powel, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The move came as a surprise, since Høiby is not of blood relation to the late King and is currently on house arrest after being found guilty of two counts of rape in June.
    — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of count
Noun
  • Hospitals and medical practitioners could treat many ailments and save lives, but medications like insulin for diabetes and antibiotics for bacterial pneumonia didn’t exist.
    — Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 25 Aug. 2026
  • On the other side of it, Zeek Biggers, who hasn’t played in either preseason game, has been dealing with a minor nagging ailment in recent weeks but is back now.
    — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of ailment

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complains
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complaints
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Cite this Entry

“Complaint.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/complaint. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on complaint

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about complaint

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