Growl vs Complain - What's the difference?
growl | complain |
The deep, threatening sound made in the throat by an animal; a grumbling sound.
The sound made by a hungry stomach.
To utter a deep guttural sound, as an angry animal; to give forth an angry, grumbling sound.
To express (something) by growling.
(software) To send a user a message via the software library.
To express feelings of pain, dissatisfaction, or resentment.
* Milton
To make a formal accusation or bring a formal charge.
* Shakespeare
To creak or squeak, as a timber or wheel.
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)Derived terms
* death growlVerb
(en verb)- The dog growled at me as I walked past.
- The old man growled his displeasure at the postman.
complain
English
Verb
(en verb)- Joe was always complaining about the noise made by his neighbours.
- O loss of sight, of thee I most complain !
- They've complained about me to the police again.
- Now, Master Shallow, you'll complain of me to the king?
- the complaining bed-springs