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Growl vs Complain - What's the difference?

growl | complain |

As verbs the difference between growl and complain

is that growl is to utter a deep guttural sound, as an angry animal; to give forth an angry, grumbling sound while complain is to express feelings of pain, dissatisfaction, or resentment.

As a noun growl

is the deep, threatening sound made in the throat by an animal; a grumbling sound.

growl

English

Alternative forms

* (l) (dialectal) * (l) (obsolete)

Noun

(en noun)
  • The deep, threatening sound made in the throat by an animal; a grumbling sound.
  • The sound made by a hungry stomach.

    • Derived terms

    * death growl

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To utter a deep guttural sound, as an angry animal; to give forth an angry, grumbling sound.
    • The dog growled at me as I walked past.
  • To express (something) by growling.
    • The old man growled his displeasure at the postman.
  • (software) To send a user a message via the software library.

    • complain

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To express feelings of pain, dissatisfaction, or resentment.
    • Joe was always complaining about the noise made by his neighbours.
  • * Milton
    • O loss of sight, of thee I most complain !
  • To make a formal accusation or bring a formal charge.
    • They've complained about me to the police again.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Now, Master Shallow, you'll complain of me to the king?
  • To creak or squeak, as a timber or wheel.
    • the complaining bed-springs

    Synonyms

    * grumble * grouse * grump * bitch * beef * gripe * whine * kvetch * moan * whinge * See also

    External links

    * *

    Anagrams

    * English reporting verbs