complainer

UK: /kəmˈpleɪnə^r/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

com•plain /kəmˈpleɪn/   v. 

1. to express dissatisfaction, resentment, pain, grief, etc.;
   find fault: [no object]
   She's always whining and complaining.
   [~ + of/about + object]
   complained of head pains; complaining about the weather.
   [~ + (that) clause]
   She complained that no one was treating her fairly.
2. [~ + to + object] to make a formal protest, accusation, or complaint:
   You must complain to the police.

com•plain•er, n. [countable]
com•plain•ing•ly, adv. 
Related Words

complain is a verb, complaint is a noun:
They always complain about the homework. They brought their complaints to their teacher.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

com•plain  (kəm plān′), v.i. 

1. to express dissatisfaction, pain, uneasiness, censure, resentment, or grief;
   find fault:
   He complained constantly about the noise in the corridor.
2. to tell of one's pains, ailments, etc.:
   to complain of a backache.
3. to make a formal accusation:
   If you think you've been swindled, complain to the police.

• Vulgar Latin *complangere, equivalent. to Latin com- com- + plangere to lament; see plaint
• Anglo-French compleign-, stem of compleindre, Old French complaindre
• Middle English compleinen 1350–1400

com•plain′a•ble, adj. 
com•plain′er, n. 
com•plain′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. Complain, grumble, growl, whine are terms for expressing dissatisfaction or discomfort.
  To complain is to protest against or lament a wrong:
  to complain about high prices.
  To grumble is to utter ill-natured complaints half to oneself:
  to grumble about the service.
  Growl may express more anger than grumble:
  to growl in reply to a question.
  To whine is to complain in a meanspirited way, using a nasal tone:
  to whine like a coward, like a spoiled child.

Antonyms

• 1. rejoice.