Complaint — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /kəm-ˈplānt/ com·plaint

Meaning & Definition of Complaint

Complaint (noun)

  1. expression of grief, pain, or dissatisfaction
  2. something that is the cause or subject of protest or outcry
  3. a bodily ailment or disease

Complaint (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: beef, bitch, bleat, carp, fuss, grievance, gripe, grouch, grouse, grumble, holler, kvetch, lament, miserere, moan, murmur, plaint, squawk, wail, whimper, whine, whinge (British), yammer
    related: challenge, demur, expostulation, kick, niggle (chiefly British), objection, protest, quibble, remonstrance, stink
    near: commendation, compliment, plaudit, acclaim, applause, praise, approval, endorsement, sanction

  2. a feeling or declaration of disapproval or dissent

    "the condo development proceeded despite the complaints of the neighborhood residents"

    similar: challenge, demur, demurral, demurrer, difficulty, exception, expostulation, fuss, kick, objection, protest, question, remonstrance, stink
    related: compunction, doubt, misgiving, qualm, scruple, misunderstanding, cavil, niggle (chiefly British), quibble, argument, conflict, debate, dispute, dissent, hassle, quarrel, squabble, static, censure, criticism, defiance, disobedience, rebellion, distrust, distrustfulness, dubiety, dubitation (archaic), incertitude, indetermination, misdoubt, mistrust, mistrustfulness, reservation, skepticism, suspicion, uncertainty, qualmishness, unease, uneasiness, reluctance, unwillingness
    near: willingness, approval, sanction, acceptance, acquiescence, agreement, assent, compliance, obedience

  3. a formal claim of criminal wrongdoing against a person

    "filed a complaint in court"

    similar: charge, count, indictment, rap
    related: accusation, allegation, plea, crimination, counteraccusation, countercharge, arraignment, impeachment, implication, imputation, innuendo, insinuation, censure, condemnation, denunciation, incrimination, recrimination

  4. an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning

    "takes a slew of medicines for his many complaints"

    similar: affection, ail, ailment, bug, complication, condition, disease, disorder, distemper, distemperature, fever, ill, illness, infirmity, malady, sickness, trouble
    related: contagion, contagious disease, contagium, infection, attack, bout, fit, spell, debility, decrepitude, feebleness, frailness, lameness, sickliness, unhealthiness, unsoundness, unwellness, weakness, malaise, matter, pip, epidemic, pest, pestilence, plague
    opposite: health, wellness
    near: fitness, healthiness, heartiness, robustness, soundness, wholeness, wholesomeness, fettle, shape

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Complaint

The most common words with a similar meaning to Complaint:

British: whinge
beef, bitch, bleat, carp, fuss, grievance, gripe, grouch, grouse, grumble, holler, kvetch, lament, miserere, moan, murmur, plaint, squawk, wail, whimper, whine, yammer, challenge, demur, demurral, demurrer, difficulty, exception, expostulation, kick, objection, protest, question, remonstrance, stink, charge, count, indictment, rap, affection

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Complaint

Words with the opposite meaning of Complaint:

health, wellness

Related Words for Complaint

niggle, quibble, compunction, doubt, misgiving, qualm, scruple, misunderstanding, cavil, argument, conflict, debate, dispute, dissent, hassle, quarrel, squabble, static, censure, criticism, defiance, disobedience, rebellion, distrust, distrustfulness, dubiety, dubitation, incertitude, indetermination, misdoubt

Near Antonyms of Complaint

commendation, compliment, plaudit, acclaim, applause, praise, approval, endorsement, sanction, willingness, acceptance, acquiescence, agreement, assent, compliance, obedience, fitness, healthiness, heartiness, robustness, soundness, wholeness, wholesomeness, fettle, shape

Origin & Etymology of Complaint

Middle English compleynte, from Anglo-French compleint, from compleindre see complain

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Complaint

Words & Phrases Containing Complaint

grounds for complaint, countercomplaint

Frequently Asked Questions about Complaint

What does "Complaint" mean?

"Complaint" means expression of grief, pain, or dissatisfaction. As a noun, it is defined as: expression of grief, pain, or dissatisfaction. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Complaint"?

Other words for "Complaint" include beef, bitch, bleat, carp, fuss, grievance, gripe and grouch. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Complaint" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Complaint"?

There are 139 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Complaint". Common alternatives include beef, bitch, bleat, carp, fuss, grievance, gripe, grouch, grouse and grumble.

What is the opposite of "Complaint"?

Antonyms of "Complaint" include health and wellness. Near antonyms include commendation, compliment, plaudit and acclaim.

How do you use "Complaint" in a sentence?

Examples of "Complaint" in a sentence: "a warning that if there were any more complaints, we were turning around and not going to the beach after all"; "the condo development proceeded despite the complaints of the neighborhood residents"; "filed a complaint in court".

Is "Complaint" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Complaint" is a noun.

Is "Complaint" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Complaint" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+.

How do you pronounce "Complaint"?

"Complaint" is pronounced /kəm-ˈplānt/ and divided into syllables as com·plaint.