Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun The expression of regret, sorrow, or dissatisfaction; a murmuring; a complaint.
- Expressing or expressive of complaint; lamenting; murmuring: as, to speak in a complaining tone.
- In the habit of making complaint; fretful; querulous: as, a complaining child.
- Sick; ill; poorly: as, he is complaining.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective prenominal uttering complaints. Opposite of
uncomplaining .
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- verb Present participle of
complain .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adjective expressing pain or dissatisfaction of resentment
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word complaining.
Examples
-
As she gets to the top and turns she shoots one of her looks at me, her eyes wide, her mouth tightly silent but her expression complaining about everything: the state I have brought you home in, the fact that you are so unhappy and ill, the late nap that will no doubt interfere with your precious routine.
Sands In Time by Julie Noble Julie Noble 2011
-
If she's having a problem with folks on her side of the aisle, in her state, doesn't it seem that her complaining is a bit over the top, not to mention out of line?
Latest ethics complaints should be 'a wake-up call,' Palin says 2009
-
I'm not quite sure what all the complaining is about considering they've preserved Tezuka's style well.
-
But our complaining is also an attempt to get people to recognize that there are problems and who has the greatest responsibility for our current problems.
Think Progress » Conservative Lawmaker Debunks Administration Claim That Congress Was Briefed 2006
-
I think the only reason you are complaining, is that the "racist and sexist" lady decided not to become a Republican tool.
-
It's a little like Sarah Palin complaining about the press bothering her kids, when she is the one who trotted them into the limelight in the first place.
-
Imagine the hypocrisy of John McCain complaining about revealing TORTURE against someone suspected of war crimes.
-
Anyone can complain, because complaining is passive and costs nothing — I think you probably know this as well as I do.
Think Progress » Tea party leaders say they would ‘absolutely’ abolish Social Security. 2010
-
And what nerve the old people have in complaining just because the Democrats want to cut half a trillion dollars out of Medicare.
-
The only reason you're complaining is because he's a threat to the establishment and the political classes.
Once can be an error, but twice ? Oh Mr Murray what a lack of honesty Norfolk Blogger 2009
Comments
Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.