'Complain' definitions:
Definition of 'complain'
From: WordNet
verb
Express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness; "My mother complains all day"; "She has a lot to kick about" [syn: complain, kick, plain, sound off, quetch, kvetch] [ant: cheer, cheer up, chirk up]
verb
Make a formal accusation; bring a formal charge; "The plaintiff's lawyer complained that he defendant had physically abused his client"
Definition of 'Complain'
From: GCIDE
- Complain \Com*plain"\ (k[o^]m*pl[=a]n"), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Complained (k[o^]m*pl[=a]nd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Complaining.] [F. complaindre, LL. complangere; com- + L. plangere to strike, beat, to beat the breast or head as a sign of grief, to lament. See Plaint.]
- 1. To give utterance to expression of grief, pain, censure, regret. etc.; to lament; to murmur; to find fault; -- commonly used with of. Also, to creak or squeak, as a timber or wheel. [1913 Webster]
- O loss of sight, of thee I most complain! --Milton. [1913 Webster]
- 2. To make a formal accusation; to make a charge. [1913 Webster]
- Now, Master Shallow, you'll complain of me to the king? --Shak.
- Syn: To repine; grumble; deplore; bewail; grieve; mourn; regret; murmur. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Complain'
From: GCIDE
- Complain \Com*plain"\, v. t. To lament; to bewail. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
- They might the grievance inwardly complain. --Daniel. [1913 Webster]
- By chaste Lucrece's soul that late complain'd Her wrongs to us. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'complain'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- accuse,
- ail,
- air a grievance,
- allege,
- arraign,
- article,
- be affected with,
- beef,
- bellyache,
- bemoan,
- bitch,
- boggle,
- book,
- boycott,
- bring accusation,
- bring charges,
- bring to book,
- call in question,
- carp at,
- challenge,
- charge,
- cite,
- clamor,
- complain loudly,
- complain of,
- confront,
- contend with,
- crab,
- croak,
- cry,
- cry out against,
- demonstrate,
- demonstrate against,
- demur,
- denounce,
- denunciate,
- dispute,
- dissent,
- enter a protest,
- expostulate,
- face down,
- face out,
- face up to,
- fasten on,
- fasten upon,
- feel ill,
- find fault,
- finger,
- fret,
- fret and fume,
- front,
- fuss,
- gripe,
- groan,
- grouch,
- grouse,
- growl,
- grumble,
- grunt,
- hang something on,
- holler,
- howl,
- impeach,
- imply,
- impute,
- indict,
- inform against,
- inform on,
- insinuate,
- kick,
- kick against,
- labor under,
- lament,
- lay charges,
- lodge a complaint,
- lodge a plaint,
- make a stand,
- march,
- meet head-on,
- moan,
- murmur,
- mutter,
- nag,
- object,
- offer resistance,
- oppose,
- pester,
- picket,
- pin on,
- prefer charges,
- press charges,
- press objections,
- protest,
- put on report,
- raise a howl,
- rally,
- recalcitrate,
- register a complaint,
- reluct,
- remonstrate,
- repine,
- report,
- reproach,
- revolt,
- scruple,
- show fight,
- sing the blues,
- sit in,
- squawk,
- stand,
- stand at bay,
- stand up against,
- stand up to,
- state a grievance,
- strike,
- strive against,
- suffer,
- take on,
- take to task,
- task,
- taunt with,
- tax,
- teach in,
- twit,
- wail,
- whimper,
- whine,
- withstand,
- worry,
- yap,
- yell bloody murder,
- yelp