complaint
noun
com·plaint kəm-ˈplānt 
1
: expression of grief, pain, or dissatisfaction
She did her chores without complaint.
2
a
: something that is the cause or subject of protest or outcry
Inefficiency was the main complaint against the local government.
b
: a bodily ailment or disease
The patient's complaint was frequent headaches.
3
: a formal allegation against a party
The complaint alleges sexual harassment.
Synonyms
- beef
- bitch
- bleat
- carp
- fuss
- grievance
- gripe
- grouch
- grouse
- grumble
- holler
- kvetch
- lament
- miserere
- moan
- murmur
- plaint
- squawk
- wail
- whimper
- whine
- whinge [British]
- yammer
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The board has received a number of complaints about the new policy. The company has a system to handle customer complaints. The lack of parking spaces is a common complaint among the city's residents. The lack of financial support is our biggest complaint. He is being treated for a stomach complaint. Shortness of breath was a common complaint among the patients. See More
Recent Examples on the Web According to the complaint, the girls confided information about their personal lives to Shipley. 
Chris Harris, Peoplemag, 9 Sep. 2022 According to the complaint, the anonymous woman and her brother, 7 at the time, were tricked into participating in the shoots as children. Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Sep. 2022 Justice Department agents interviewed Wait on Aug. 24, according to the complaint. Fox News, 2 Sep. 2022 Simic’s husband is a Navy officer, according to the complaint. Corky Siemaszko, NBC News, 2 Sep. 2022 Beginning in 2012, according to the complaint, Saylor purchased a home in Miami Beach, obtained a Florida driver’s license and registered to vote there despite living primarily in D.C. Michael Brice-saddler, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2022 According to the complaint against Orange County, California, Quinones had to wait two hours after her water broke before officers responded after hitting a distress button in her jail cell. Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY, 30 Aug. 2022 Police believe Wasserman fired multiple gunshots while officers were at his front door, according to the complaint. Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 30 Aug. 2022 The boards of the insurers weren’t notified about the mechanics of the transaction nor that Mr. Lindberg pocketed the difference, according to the complaint. Mark Maremont, WSJ, 30 Aug. 2022 See More
Chris Harris, Peoplemag, 9 Sep. 2022 According to the complaint, the anonymous woman and her brother, 7 at the time, were tricked into participating in the shoots as children. Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Sep. 2022 Justice Department agents interviewed Wait on Aug. 24, according to the complaint. Fox News, 2 Sep. 2022 Simic’s husband is a Navy officer, according to the complaint. Corky Siemaszko, NBC News, 2 Sep. 2022 Beginning in 2012, according to the complaint, Saylor purchased a home in Miami Beach, obtained a Florida driver’s license and registered to vote there despite living primarily in D.C. Michael Brice-saddler, Washington Post, 31 Aug. 2022 According to the complaint against Orange County, California, Quinones had to wait two hours after her water broke before officers responded after hitting a distress button in her jail cell. Scott Gleeson, USA TODAY, 30 Aug. 2022 Police believe Wasserman fired multiple gunshots while officers were at his front door, according to the complaint. Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 30 Aug. 2022 The boards of the insurers weren’t notified about the mechanics of the transaction nor that Mr. Lindberg pocketed the difference, according to the complaint. Mark Maremont, WSJ, 30 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English compleynte, from Anglo-French compleint, from compleindre — see complain
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing complaint
Kids Definition
complaint
noun
com·plaint kəm-ˈplānt
1
: expression of grief, pain, or discontent
He does his work without complaint.
2
: a cause or reason for expressing grief, pain, or discontent
The noise is my biggest complaint.
3
: a sickness or disease of the body
a stomach complaint
4
: a charge of wrongdoing against a person
What's her complaint against me?
Medical Definition
complaint
noun
com·plaint kəm-ˈplānt
: a bodily ailment or disease
bloating and other digestive complaints Christine Gorman
Christine Gorman Legal Definition
complaint
noun
com·plaint
1
: the initial pleading that starts a lawsuit and that sets forth the allegations made by the plaintiff against the defendant and the plaintiff's demand for relief see also prayer, process, well-pleaded complaint rule compare answer
2
: a document sworn to by a victim or police officer that sets forth a criminal violation and that serves as the charging instrument by which charges are filed and judicial proceedings commenced against a defendant in a magistrate's court compare declaration, indictment, information
3
: petition
complaint
noun
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- grievance
- whine
- moan
- bitch
- lament
- fuss
- gripe
- grumble
- objection
- grouse
- whimper
- protest
- plaint
- murmur
- squawk
- beef
- whinge
- bleat
- wail
- miserere
- carp
- quibble
- remonstrance
- challenge
- holler
- kvetch
- expostulation
- yammer
- grouch
- demur
- stink
- niggle
- kick
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- compliment
- praise
- commendation
- approval
- plaudit
- indorsement
- applause
- sanction
- acclaim
- endorsement
2
as in objection
a feeling or declaration of disapproval or dissent the condo development proceeded despite the complaints of the neighborhood residents Synonyms & Similar Words
- objection
- exception
- question
- protest
- criticism
- demurrer
- challenge
- remonstrance
- fuss
- expostulation
- demur
- dispute
- stink
- difficulty
- suspicion
- qualm
- demurral
- doubt
- dissent
- quibble
- misunderstanding
- quarrel
- argument
- squabble
- skepticism
- censure
- misgiving
- cavil
- compunction
- reluctance
- kick
- debate
- niggle
- disobedience
- distrust
- mistrust
- unease
- scruple
- uncertainty
- static
- reservation
- dubitation
- conflict
- uneasiness
- rebellion
- unwillingness
- defiance
- mistrustfulness
- distrustfulness
- misdoubt
- dubiety
- hassle
- indetermination
- qualmishness
- incertitude
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- approval
- agreement
- sanction
- willingness
- acceptance
- compliance
- assent
- acquiescence
- obedience
3
as in indictment
a formal claim of criminal wrongdoing against a person filed a complaint in court Synonyms & Similar Words
- indictment
- allegation
- count
- accusation
- charge
- plea
- rap
- condemnation
- crimination
- denunciation
- censure
- insinuation
- impeachment
- implication
- counteraccusation
- innuendo
- arraignment
- countercharge
- imputation
- incrimination
- recrimination
4
as in ailment
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning takes a slew of medicines for his many complaints Synonyms & Similar Words
- ailment
- disease
- illness
- ill
- condition
- fever
- disorder
- sickness
- bug
- attack
- complication
- infection
- malady
- trouble
- ail
- infirmity
- plague
- distemper
- affection
- distemperature
- contagious disease
- matter
- lameness
- contagion
- feebleness
- bout
- contagium
- malaise
- epidemic
- fit
- unsoundness
- spell
- weakness
- debility
- decrepitude
- unhealthiness
- sickliness
- pestilence
- unwellness
- pip
- pest
- frailness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- health
- wellness
- soundness
- shape
- robustness
- fitness
- healthiness
- wholeness
- heartiness
- wholesomeness
- fettle