bellyaches

verb

present tense third-person singular of bellyache
as in complains
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely tired of the kids bellyaching every time they're asked to mow the lawn or take out the trash

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bellyaches
  1. complains
  2. screams
  3. whines
Verb
  • Changes in Water Pressure Ragsdale’s antenna immediately goes up when a homeowner complains about low water pressure.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Shannon basically complains so much that Jenn, a sweet baby angel straight from a Hallmark Christmas movie, offers to change rooms with her.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of complains
Verb
  • Brighton’s squad was fashioned in his image, and while new head coach Arturo Ruiz impressed during his time at Real Sociedad, getting to grips with a brand new team so close to the season’s beginning screams teething problems.
    — Megan Feringa, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Otherwise, there’s definitely a family-friendly element to the hotel (the whole storybook feel screams childhood), though the food options may be a little bit advanced for a kids’ palate.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of screams
Verb
  • At one point, when Reagan suggests sharing missile-defense technology, Gorbachev stands up and whines about how America will not even share dairy technology so that the Soviets can provide milk to their children.
    — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The snippet ends just as the cat whines and tucks its head beneath the barrier, not far from the officer filming the scene.
    — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026
Definition of whines
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

bellyachers
bellyaches
bellyaching
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Cite this Entry

“Bellyaches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bellyaches. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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