The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word BLEATED
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
B
L
E
A
T
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D
More clues leading to the result BLEATED
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Complained" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case complained = bleated.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does BLEATED mean?
BLEATED verb- Of a sheep or goat, to make its characteristic cry; of a human, to mimic this sound.
- Of a person, to complain.