complain
To express feelings of pain, dissatisfaction, or resentment.
Verb 4 meanings
To express feelings of pain, dissatisfaction, or resentment.
“Joe was always complaining about the noise made by his neighbours.”
To state the presence of something negative; to indicate that one is suffering from something; to report (e.g.) a symptom.
“The patient complained of headache, nausea, and joint pain.”
To make a formal accusation or bring a formal charge.
“They've complained about me to the police again.”
To creak or squeak, as a timber or wheel.
“the complaining bed-springs”
Etymology
From Middle English complaynen, from Old French complaindre, from Medieval Latin complangere (“to bewail, complain”), from Latin com- (“together”) + plangere (“to strike, beat, as the breast in extreme grief, bewail”); see plain, plaint.
Similar and opposite words
COMPLAIN at a glance
COMPLAIN has 8 letters and scores 14 points in Scrabble (C 3 + O 1 + M 3 + P 3 + L 1 + A 1 + I 1 + N 1) and 19 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #4,751 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with complain
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