as in cramps
abdominal pain especially when focused in the digestive organs
eating too many apples will give you a bellyache
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in to complain
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bellyache
Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 8 Mar. 2024
No place to stay Reaching San Antonio, Dieuvena, Banel and Matéo Sebastien slept at the airport, waiting for a flight to Boston, during which time the 4-year-old boy began complaining of a bellyache.
—Liam Reilly, CNN, 30 Apr. 2023
Counterpoint When Chrysler swallowed AMC, we flinty-eyed industry observers wondered if Lee Iacocca would end up with a bellyache.
—Larry Griffin, Car and Driver, 11 Apr. 2023
Just a sweet glide across the land, no bellyache from a jostle.
—Arkansas Online, 30 June 2021
Some adverse reactions to look out for can be diarrhea and bellyaches.
If your canine (and their stomach) loves the new snack, then great.
—Jackie Frere, Woman's Day, 2 Apr. 2019
But rather than bellyache, why not follow the lead of McDonald’s and de-invent them?
—Joe Queenan, WSJ, 9 Nov. 2018
With the stadium being mostly privately financed the naysayers are going to have something else to whine and bellyache about.
—John Canzano, OregonLive.com, 17 Apr. 2018
The intersection between sports and pop culture in America has existed at least since Babe Ruth’s famous bellyache in 1925.
—Ken Belson, New York Times, 15 July 2016
Dan Rodricks, Baltimore Sun, 8 Mar. 2024
Whereas Michael Myers paced calmly in a silly jumpsuit, Lewis bellyached in moody black outfits.
—Jason Zinoman, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024
DeSantis hasn’t ceased bellyaching about being outmaneuvered by Disney’s lawyers.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2023
At the heart of the espalier is the stake about which Grenadiers are known to bellyache.
—Paul Muldoon, The New York Review of Books, 24 Sep. 2020
All of us have cheated this way before and hopefully didn’t bellyache too loudly when we were called out for it.
—Don Yaeger, Forbes, 16 June 2021
But grousing over presidential vacations is a bit of a political charade; Democrats bellyache about Republican presidents taking time off and vice versa, but even a commander in chief needs some downtime.
—Stephen Collinson, CNN, 3 June 2021
The city rebranded a different street as Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, though not without bellyaching among the citizenry.
—Sarah Vowell, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2020
But on a losing team that couldn’t get him the football, Sanders made faces and bellyached.
—Mark Kiszla, The Denver Post, 23 Oct. 2019
Noun
The silence at least gave the crowd space to bellyache and boo.
—Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 8 Mar. 2024
No place to stay Reaching San Antonio, Dieuvena, Banel and Matéo Sebastien slept at the airport, waiting for a flight to Boston, during which time the 4-year-old boy began complaining of a bellyache.
—Liam Reilly, CNN, 30 Apr. 2023
Counterpoint When Chrysler swallowed AMC, we flinty-eyed industry observers wondered if Lee Iacocca would end up with a bellyache.
—Larry Griffin, Car and Driver, 11 Apr. 2023
Just a sweet glide across the land, no bellyache from a jostle.
—Arkansas Online, 30 June 2021
Some adverse reactions to look out for can be diarrhea and bellyaches.
If your canine (and their stomach) loves the new snack, then great.
—Jackie Frere, Woman's Day, 2 Apr. 2019
But rather than bellyache, why not follow the lead of McDonald’s and de-invent them?
—Joe Queenan, WSJ, 9 Nov. 2018
With the stadium being mostly privately financed the naysayers are going to have something else to whine and bellyache about.
—John Canzano, OregonLive.com, 17 Apr. 2018
The intersection between sports and pop culture in America has existed at least since Babe Ruth’s famous bellyache in 1925.
—Ken Belson, New York Times, 15 July 2016
Verb
And the second major benefit to weekly recycling: People finally stop bellyaching about biweekly recycling.
—Dan Rodricks, Baltimore Sun, 8 Mar. 2024
Whereas Michael Myers paced calmly in a silly jumpsuit, Lewis bellyached in moody black outfits.
—Jason Zinoman, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024
DeSantis hasn’t ceased bellyaching about being outmaneuvered by Disney’s lawyers.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2023
At the heart of the espalier is the stake about which Grenadiers are known to bellyache.
—Paul Muldoon, The New York Review of Books, 24 Sep. 2020
All of us have cheated this way before and hopefully didn’t bellyache too loudly when we were called out for it.
—Don Yaeger, Forbes, 16 June 2021
But grousing over presidential vacations is a bit of a political charade; Democrats bellyache about Republican presidents taking time off and vice versa, but even a commander in chief needs some downtime.
—Stephen Collinson, CNN, 3 June 2021
The city rebranded a different street as Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, though not without bellyaching among the citizenry.
—Sarah Vowell, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2020
But on a losing team that couldn’t get him the football, Sanders made faces and bellyached.
—Mark Kiszla, The Denver Post, 23 Oct. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bellyache
Noun
-
Symptoms can include dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps.—
George Monastiriakos,
Newsweek,
30 Dec. 2024
-
Cases typically last from four to seven days and include such symptoms as abdominal cramps, diarrhea and fever.—
George Monastiriakos,
Newsweek,
30 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
The firing after a nearly 30-year run appeared to surprise Starkey, after reports that Daltrey was not happy with the drummer’s performance at a March Royal Albert Hall gig, complaining from stage that Starkey’s loud playing was throwing him off.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
27 May 2025
-
Many complain about a lack of tort reform, unrestricted attorney advertising or litigation funding, all of which contribute significantly to the scam.—
Robert Tyson,
Chicago Tribune,
27 May 2025
Noun
-
It is steeped as a tea in some cultures and used to treat stomachaches, congestion, and sore throats.1 To make your own, steep two leaves per cup of boiling water for five minutes.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Usually, listeria causes stomachaches, headaches, diarrhea, vomiting and muscle stiffness.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
13 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Heard screamed and dropped to the ground with the knife beside him.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 May 2025
-
Lyle approaches to finish them both, but Merritt screams from below, distracting Lyle just long enough for Akram to spring to action.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
29 May 2025
Verb
-
Rangers down on the flight line, standing tall and looking fine, the engines and turbines are starting to whine, so early in the morning.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 May 2025
-
During the sweet clip, the rescue puppy named Penelope can be seen whining and trying her best to crawl along the bed toward the cat, Monroe.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 May 2025
Verb
-
The Rockies have been a zombie baseball club for five years now, moaning and trudging along the National League cellar, wandering the darkness, looking for brains to eat.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
11 May 2025
-
But the Francophone descriptor fails to conjure the dust her voice kicks up, the grit and moan that hang in the air after each song.—
Carrie Brownstein,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bellyache.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bellyache. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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