1. complain To complain is to give utterance to dissatisfaction or objection, express a sense of wrong or ill treatment. One complains of a real or assumed grievance; he may murmur through mere peevishness Synonyms: complain, croak, growl, grunt, remonstrate, find fault, grumble, murmur, repine Antonyms: applaud, approve, commend, eulogize, laud, praise