diff --git a/unittest/commands/test_groups.cpp b/unittest/commands/test_groups.cpp
index 9d69b5412e..a356a02cca 100644
--- a/unittest/commands/test_groups.cpp
+++ b/unittest/commands/test_groups.cpp
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ using LAMMPS_NS::utils::split_words;
 
 namespace LAMMPS_NS {
 using ::testing::ExitedWithCode;
-using ::testing::MatchesRegex;
 using ::testing::StrEq;
 
 class GroupTest : public LAMMPSTest {
diff --git a/unittest/commands/test_kim_commands.cpp b/unittest/commands/test_kim_commands.cpp
index 183d333ab4..953b4e5a00 100644
--- a/unittest/commands/test_kim_commands.cpp
+++ b/unittest/commands/test_kim_commands.cpp
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@ bool verbose = false;
 using LAMMPS_NS::utils::split_words;
 
 namespace LAMMPS_NS {
-using ::testing::MatchesRegex;
 using ::testing::StrEq;
 
 class KimCommandsTest : public LAMMPSTest {
diff --git a/unittest/commands/test_lattice_region.cpp b/unittest/commands/test_lattice_region.cpp
index 1bbda21001..590180326c 100644
--- a/unittest/commands/test_lattice_region.cpp
+++ b/unittest/commands/test_lattice_region.cpp
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ using LAMMPS_NS::utils::split_words;
 
 namespace LAMMPS_NS {
 using ::testing::ExitedWithCode;
-using ::testing::MatchesRegex;
+using ::testing::ContainsRegex;
 using ::testing::StrEq;
 
 class LatticeRegionTest : public LAMMPSTest {
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ TEST_F(LatticeRegionTest, lattice_sc)
     BEGIN_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
     command("lattice sc 1.0 spacing 1.5 2.0 3.0");
     auto output = END_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
-    ASSERT_THAT(output, MatchesRegex(".*Lattice spacing in x,y,z = 1.5.* 2.* 3.*"));
+    ASSERT_THAT(output, ContainsRegex(".*Lattice spacing in x,y,z = 1.5.* 2.* 3.*"));
 
     auto lattice = lmp->domain->lattice;
     ASSERT_EQ(lattice->xlattice, 1.5);
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ TEST_F(LatticeRegionTest, lattice_sc)
     BEGIN_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
     command("lattice sc 2.0");
     output = END_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
-    ASSERT_THAT(output, MatchesRegex(".*Lattice spacing in x,y,z = 2.* 2.* 2.*"));
+    ASSERT_THAT(output, ContainsRegex(".*Lattice spacing in x,y,z = 2.* 2.* 2.*"));
 
     lattice = lmp->domain->lattice;
     ASSERT_EQ(lattice->style, Lattice::SC);
diff --git a/unittest/commands/test_reset_ids.cpp b/unittest/commands/test_reset_ids.cpp
index c67f90b341..8ca5fe5c05 100644
--- a/unittest/commands/test_reset_ids.cpp
+++ b/unittest/commands/test_reset_ids.cpp
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ bool verbose = false;
 using LAMMPS_NS::utils::split_words;
 
 namespace LAMMPS_NS {
-using ::testing::MatchesRegex;
 
 #define GETIDX(i) lmp->atom->map(i)
 
diff --git a/unittest/commands/test_simple_commands.cpp b/unittest/commands/test_simple_commands.cpp
index 1844752d33..c75cbb22b9 100644
--- a/unittest/commands/test_simple_commands.cpp
+++ b/unittest/commands/test_simple_commands.cpp
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ using LAMMPS_NS::utils::split_words;
 
 namespace LAMMPS_NS {
 using ::testing::ExitedWithCode;
-using ::testing::MatchesRegex;
+using ::testing::ContainsRegex;
 using ::testing::StrEq;
 
 class SimpleCommandsTest : public LAMMPSTest {
@@ -394,62 +394,62 @@ TEST_F(SimpleCommandsTest, Plugin)
     lmp->input->one(fmt::format(loadfmt, "hello"));
     auto text = ::testing::internal::GetCapturedStdout();
     if (verbose) std::cout << text;
-    ASSERT_THAT(text, MatchesRegex(".*Loading plugin: Hello world command.*"));
+    ASSERT_THAT(text, ContainsRegex(".*Loading plugin: Hello world command.*"));
 
     ::testing::internal::CaptureStdout();
     lmp->input->one(fmt::format(loadfmt, "xxx"));
     text = ::testing::internal::GetCapturedStdout();
     if (verbose) std::cout << text;
-    ASSERT_THAT(text, MatchesRegex(".*Open of file .*xxx.* failed.*"));
+    ASSERT_THAT(text, ContainsRegex(".*Open of file .*xxx.* failed.*"));
 
     ::testing::internal::CaptureStdout();
     lmp->input->one(fmt::format(loadfmt, "nve2"));
     text = ::testing::internal::GetCapturedStdout();
     if (verbose) std::cout << text;
-    ASSERT_THAT(text, MatchesRegex(".*Loading plugin: NVE2 variant fix style.*"));
+    ASSERT_THAT(text, ContainsRegex(".*Loading plugin: NVE2 variant fix style.*"));
     ::testing::internal::CaptureStdout();
     lmp->input->one("plugin list");
     text = ::testing::internal::GetCapturedStdout();
     if (verbose) std::cout << text;
-    ASSERT_THAT(text, MatchesRegex(".*1: command style plugin hello"
+    ASSERT_THAT(text, ContainsRegex(".*1: command style plugin hello"
                                    ".*2: fix style plugin nve2.*"));
 
     ::testing::internal::CaptureStdout();
     lmp->input->one(fmt::format(loadfmt, "hello"));
     text = ::testing::internal::GetCapturedStdout();
     if (verbose) std::cout << text;
-    ASSERT_THAT(text, MatchesRegex(".*Ignoring load of command style hello: "
+    ASSERT_THAT(text, ContainsRegex(".*Ignoring load of command style hello: "
                                    "must unload existing hello plugin.*"));
 
     ::testing::internal::CaptureStdout();
     lmp->input->one("plugin unload command hello");
     text = ::testing::internal::GetCapturedStdout();
     if (verbose) std::cout << text;
-    ASSERT_THAT(text, MatchesRegex(".*Unloading command style hello.*"));
+    ASSERT_THAT(text, ContainsRegex(".*Unloading command style hello.*"));
 
     ::testing::internal::CaptureStdout();
     lmp->input->one("plugin unload pair nve2");
     text = ::testing::internal::GetCapturedStdout();
     if (verbose) std::cout << text;
-    ASSERT_THAT(text, MatchesRegex(".*Ignoring unload of pair style nve2: not from a plugin.*"));
+    ASSERT_THAT(text, ContainsRegex(".*Ignoring unload of pair style nve2: not from a plugin.*"));
 
     ::testing::internal::CaptureStdout();
     lmp->input->one("plugin unload fix nve2");
     text = ::testing::internal::GetCapturedStdout();
     if (verbose) std::cout << text;
-    ASSERT_THAT(text, MatchesRegex(".*Unloading fix style nve2.*"));
+    ASSERT_THAT(text, ContainsRegex(".*Unloading fix style nve2.*"));
 
     ::testing::internal::CaptureStdout();
     lmp->input->one("plugin unload fix nve");
     text = ::testing::internal::GetCapturedStdout();
     if (verbose) std::cout << text;
-    ASSERT_THAT(text, MatchesRegex(".*Ignoring unload of fix style nve: not from a plugin.*"));
+    ASSERT_THAT(text, ContainsRegex(".*Ignoring unload of fix style nve: not from a plugin.*"));
 
     ::testing::internal::CaptureStdout();
     lmp->input->one("plugin list");
     text = ::testing::internal::GetCapturedStdout();
     if (verbose) std::cout << text;
-    ASSERT_THAT(text, MatchesRegex(".*Currently loaded plugins.*"));
+    ASSERT_THAT(text, ContainsRegex(".*Currently loaded plugins.*"));
 }
 #endif
 
@@ -495,8 +495,8 @@ TEST_F(SimpleCommandsTest, CiteMe)
     std::string text = END_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
 
     // find the two unique citations, but not the third
-    ASSERT_THAT(text, MatchesRegex(".*one.*two.*"));
-    ASSERT_THAT(text, Not(MatchesRegex(".*one.*two.*one.*")));
+    ASSERT_THAT(text, ContainsRegex(".*one.*two.*"));
+    ASSERT_THAT(text, Not(ContainsRegex(".*one.*two.*one.*")));
 
     BEGIN_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
     lmp->citeme->add("test citation one:\n 0\n");
@@ -507,8 +507,8 @@ TEST_F(SimpleCommandsTest, CiteMe)
     text = END_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
 
     // find the forth (only differs in long citation) and sixth added citation
-    ASSERT_THAT(text, MatchesRegex(".*one.*three.*"));
-    ASSERT_THAT(text, Not(MatchesRegex(".*two.*")));
+    ASSERT_THAT(text, ContainsRegex(".*one.*three.*"));
+    ASSERT_THAT(text, Not(ContainsRegex(".*two.*")));
 
     BEGIN_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
     lmp->citeme->add("test citation one:\n 1\n");
@@ -521,7 +521,7 @@ TEST_F(SimpleCommandsTest, CiteMe)
     text = END_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
 
     // no new citation. no CITE-CITE-CITE- lines
-    ASSERT_THAT(text, Not(MatchesRegex(".*CITE-CITE-CITE-CITE.*")));
+    ASSERT_THAT(text, Not(ContainsRegex(".*CITE-CITE-CITE-CITE.*")));
 }
 } // namespace LAMMPS_NS
 
diff --git a/unittest/commands/test_variables.cpp b/unittest/commands/test_variables.cpp
index fb0aa58069..af52df8e28 100644
--- a/unittest/commands/test_variables.cpp
+++ b/unittest/commands/test_variables.cpp
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ using LAMMPS_NS::utils::split_words;
 
 namespace LAMMPS_NS {
 using ::testing::ExitedWithCode;
-using ::testing::MatchesRegex;
+using ::testing::ContainsRegex;
 using ::testing::StrEq;
 
 class VariableTest : public LAMMPSTest {
@@ -394,58 +394,58 @@ TEST_F(VariableTest, IfCommand)
     BEGIN_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
     command("if 1>0 then 'print \"bingo!\"'");
     auto text = END_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
-    ASSERT_THAT(text, MatchesRegex(".*bingo!.*"));
+    ASSERT_THAT(text, ContainsRegex(".*bingo!.*"));
 
     BEGIN_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
     command("if 1>2 then 'print \"bingo!\"' else 'print \"nope?\"'");
     text = END_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
-    ASSERT_THAT(text, MatchesRegex(".*nope\?.*"));
+    ASSERT_THAT(text, ContainsRegex(".*nope\?.*"));
 
     BEGIN_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
     command("if (1<=0) then 'print \"bingo!\"' else 'print \"nope?\"'");
     text = END_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
-    ASSERT_THAT(text, MatchesRegex(".*nope\?.*"));
+    ASSERT_THAT(text, ContainsRegex(".*nope\?.*"));
 
     BEGIN_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
     command("if (-1.0e-1<0.0E+0)|^(1<0) then 'print \"bingo!\"'");
     text = END_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
-    ASSERT_THAT(text, MatchesRegex(".*bingo!.*"));
+    ASSERT_THAT(text, ContainsRegex(".*bingo!.*"));
 
     BEGIN_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
     command("if (${one}==1.0)&&(2>=1) then 'print \"bingo!\"'");
     text = END_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
-    ASSERT_THAT(text, MatchesRegex(".*bingo!.*"));
+    ASSERT_THAT(text, ContainsRegex(".*bingo!.*"));
 
     BEGIN_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
     command("if !((${one}!=1.0)||(2|^1)) then 'print \"missed\"' else 'print \"bingo!\"'");
     text = END_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
-    ASSERT_THAT(text, MatchesRegex(".*bingo!.*"));
+    ASSERT_THAT(text, ContainsRegex(".*bingo!.*"));
 
     BEGIN_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
     command("if (1>=2)&&(0&&1) then 'print \"missed\"' else 'print \"bingo!\"'");
     text = END_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
-    ASSERT_THAT(text, MatchesRegex(".*bingo!.*"));
+    ASSERT_THAT(text, ContainsRegex(".*bingo!.*"));
 
     BEGIN_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
     command("if !1 then 'print \"missed\"' else 'print \"bingo!\"'");
     text = END_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
-    ASSERT_THAT(text, MatchesRegex(".*bingo!.*"));
+    ASSERT_THAT(text, ContainsRegex(".*bingo!.*"));
 
     BEGIN_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
     command("if !(a==b) then 'print \"bingo!\"'");
     text = END_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
-    ASSERT_THAT(text, MatchesRegex(".*bingo!.*"));
+    ASSERT_THAT(text, ContainsRegex(".*bingo!.*"));
 
     BEGIN_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
     command("if x==x|^1==0 then 'print \"bingo!\"'");
     text = END_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
-    ASSERT_THAT(text, MatchesRegex(".*bingo!.*"));
+    ASSERT_THAT(text, ContainsRegex(".*bingo!.*"));
 
     BEGIN_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
     command("if x!=x|^a!=b then 'print \"bingo!\"'");
     text = END_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
 
-    ASSERT_THAT(text, MatchesRegex(".*bingo!.*"));
+    ASSERT_THAT(text, ContainsRegex(".*bingo!.*"));
 
     TEST_FAILURE(".*ERROR: Invalid Boolean syntax in if command.*",
                  command("if () then 'print \"bingo!\"'"););
diff --git a/unittest/cplusplus/test_error_class.cpp b/unittest/cplusplus/test_error_class.cpp
index f4f0d3b28b..27318646be 100644
--- a/unittest/cplusplus/test_error_class.cpp
+++ b/unittest/cplusplus/test_error_class.cpp
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ bool verbose = false;
 
 namespace LAMMPS_NS {
 
-using ::testing::MatchesRegex;
+using ::testing::ContainsRegex;
 using utils::split_words;
 
 class Error_class : public LAMMPSTest {
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ TEST_F(Error_class, message)
     auto output = CAPTURE_OUTPUT([&] {
         error->message(FLERR, "one message");
     });
-    ASSERT_THAT(output, MatchesRegex("one message .*test_error_class.cpp:.*"));
+    ASSERT_THAT(output, ContainsRegex("one message .*test_error_class.cpp:.*"));
 };
 
 TEST_F(Error_class, warning)
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ TEST_F(Error_class, warning)
     auto output = CAPTURE_OUTPUT([&] {
         error->warning(FLERR, "one warning");
     });
-    ASSERT_THAT(output, MatchesRegex("WARNING: one warning .*test_error_class.cpp:.*"));
+    ASSERT_THAT(output, ContainsRegex("WARNING: one warning .*test_error_class.cpp:.*"));
     ASSERT_THAT(error->get_maxwarn(), 100);
 
     // warnings disabled
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ TEST_F(Error_class, warning)
     output = CAPTURE_OUTPUT([&] {
         thermo->lost_check();
     });
-    ASSERT_THAT(output, MatchesRegex("WARNING: Too many warnings: 5 vs 2. All future.*"));
+    ASSERT_THAT(output, ContainsRegex("WARNING: Too many warnings: 5 vs 2. All future.*"));
 
     output = CAPTURE_OUTPUT([&] {
         error->warning(FLERR, "one warning");
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ TEST_F(Error_class, warning)
     output = CAPTURE_OUTPUT([&] {
         error->warning(FLERR, "one warning");
     });
-    ASSERT_THAT(output, MatchesRegex("WARNING: one warning.*"));
+    ASSERT_THAT(output, ContainsRegex("WARNING: one warning.*"));
 
     BEGIN_HIDE_OUTPUT();
     command("thermo_modify warn default");
diff --git a/unittest/cplusplus/test_lammps_class.cpp b/unittest/cplusplus/test_lammps_class.cpp
index eb6735a738..6bbeb385e9 100644
--- a/unittest/cplusplus/test_lammps_class.cpp
+++ b/unittest/cplusplus/test_lammps_class.cpp
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
 #include "gmock/gmock.h"
 #include "gtest/gtest.h"
 
-using ::testing::MatchesRegex;
+using ::testing::ContainsRegex;
 using ::testing::StartsWith;
 
 namespace LAMMPS_NS {
@@ -339,7 +339,7 @@ TEST(LAMMPS_init, OpenMP)
     ::testing::internal::CaptureStdout();
     LAMMPS *lmp        = new LAMMPS(argc, argv, MPI_COMM_WORLD);
     std::string output = ::testing::internal::GetCapturedStdout();
-    EXPECT_THAT(output, MatchesRegex(".*using 2 OpenMP thread.*per MPI task.*"));
+    EXPECT_THAT(output, ContainsRegex(".*using 2 OpenMP thread.*per MPI task.*"));
 
     if (LAMMPS_NS::Info::has_accelerator_feature("OPENMP", "api", "openmp"))
         EXPECT_EQ(lmp->comm->nthreads, 2);
@@ -373,7 +373,7 @@ TEST(LAMMPS_init, NoOpenMP)
     LAMMPS *lmp        = new LAMMPS(argc, argv, MPI_COMM_WORLD);
     std::string output = ::testing::internal::GetCapturedStdout();
     EXPECT_THAT(output,
-                MatchesRegex(".*OMP_NUM_THREADS environment is not set.*Defaulting to 1 thread.*"));
+                ContainsRegex(".*OMP_NUM_THREADS environment is not set.*Defaulting to 1 thread.*"));
     EXPECT_EQ(lmp->comm->nthreads, 1);
     ::testing::internal::CaptureStdout();
     delete lmp;
diff --git a/unittest/formats/test_file_operations.cpp b/unittest/formats/test_file_operations.cpp
index bb26dff391..08c1c2fd9a 100644
--- a/unittest/formats/test_file_operations.cpp
+++ b/unittest/formats/test_file_operations.cpp
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@
 
 using namespace LAMMPS_NS;
 
-using testing::MatchesRegex;
 using testing::StrEq;
 
 using utils::read_lines_from_file;
diff --git a/unittest/formats/test_molecule_file.cpp b/unittest/formats/test_molecule_file.cpp
index e802ebfa2c..b67ed746b9 100644
--- a/unittest/formats/test_molecule_file.cpp
+++ b/unittest/formats/test_molecule_file.cpp
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 
 using namespace LAMMPS_NS;
 
-using testing::MatchesRegex;
+using testing::ContainsRegex;
 using testing::StrEq;
 
 using utils::split_words;
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ TEST_F(MoleculeFileTest, minimal)
     BEGIN_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
     run_mol_cmd(test_name, "", "Comment\n1 atoms\n\n Coords\n\n 1 0.0 0.0 0.0\n");
     auto output = END_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
-    ASSERT_THAT(output, MatchesRegex(".*Read molecule template.*1 molecules.*1 atoms.*0 bonds.*"));
+    ASSERT_THAT(output, ContainsRegex(".*Read molecule template.*1 molecules.*1 atoms.*0 bonds.*"));
 }
 
 TEST_F(MoleculeFileTest, notype)
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ TEST_F(MoleculeFileTest, notype)
     command("create_box 1 box");
     run_mol_cmd(test_name, "", "Comment\n1 atoms\n\n Coords\n\n 1 0.0 0.0 0.0\n");
     auto output = END_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
-    ASSERT_THAT(output, MatchesRegex(".*Read molecule template.*1 molecules.*1 atoms.*0 bonds.*"));
+    ASSERT_THAT(output, ContainsRegex(".*Read molecule template.*1 molecules.*1 atoms.*0 bonds.*"));
     TEST_FAILURE(".*ERROR: Create_atoms molecule must have atom types.*",
                  command("create_atoms 0 single 0.0 0.0 0.0 mol notype 542465"););
   }
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ TEST_F(MoleculeFileTest, extramass)
                 " Types\n\n 1 1\n Masses\n\n 1 1.0\n");
     command("create_atoms 0 single 0.0 0.0 0.0 mol extramass 73546");
     auto output = END_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
-    ASSERT_THAT(output, MatchesRegex(".*WARNING: Molecule attributes do not match "
+    ASSERT_THAT(output, ContainsRegex(".*WARNING: Molecule attributes do not match "
                                      "system attributes.*"));
 }
 
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ TEST_F(MoleculeFileTest, twomols)
                 " Coords\n\n 1 0.0 0.0 0.0\n 2 0.0 0.0 1.0\n"
                 " Molecules\n\n 1 1\n 2 2\n\n Types\n\n 1 1\n 2 2\n\n");
     auto output = END_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
-    ASSERT_THAT(output, MatchesRegex(".*Read molecule template.*2 molecules.*2 atoms "
+    ASSERT_THAT(output, ContainsRegex(".*Read molecule template.*2 molecules.*2 atoms "
                                      "with max type 2.*0 bonds.*"));
 }
 
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ TEST_F(MoleculeFileTest, twofiles)
     BEGIN_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
     command("molecule twomols moltest.h2o.mol moltest.co2.mol offset 2 1 1 0 0");
     auto output = END_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
-    ASSERT_THAT(output, MatchesRegex(".*Read molecule template twomols:.*1 molecules.*3 atoms "
+    ASSERT_THAT(output, ContainsRegex(".*Read molecule template twomols:.*1 molecules.*3 atoms "
                                      "with max type 2.*2 bonds with max type 1.*"
                                      "1 angles with max type 1.*0 dihedrals.*"
                                      ".*Read molecule template twomols:.*1 molecules.*3 atoms "
@@ -254,14 +254,14 @@ TEST_F(MoleculeFileTest, bonds)
                 " 1 1 1 2\n"
                 " 2 2 1 3\n\n");
     auto output = END_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
-    ASSERT_THAT(output, MatchesRegex(".*Read molecule template.*1 molecules.*4 atoms.*type.*2.*"
+    ASSERT_THAT(output, ContainsRegex(".*Read molecule template.*1 molecules.*4 atoms.*type.*2.*"
                                      "2 bonds.*type.*2.*0 angles.*"));
 
     BEGIN_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
     command("mass * 2.0");
     command("create_atoms 0 single 0.5 0.5 0.5 mol bonds 67235");
     output = END_CAPTURE_OUTPUT();
-    ASSERT_THAT(output, MatchesRegex(".*Created 4 atoms.*"));
+    ASSERT_THAT(output, ContainsRegex(".*Created 4 atoms.*"));
 
     BEGIN_HIDE_OUTPUT();
     Molecule *mol = lmp->atom->molecules[0];
diff --git a/unittest/formats/test_potential_file_reader.cpp b/unittest/formats/test_potential_file_reader.cpp
index 7cd61d25a4..f9dee16c14 100644
--- a/unittest/formats/test_potential_file_reader.cpp
+++ b/unittest/formats/test_potential_file_reader.cpp
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@
 #include <vector>
 
 using namespace LAMMPS_NS;
-using ::testing::MatchesRegex;
 using utils::split_words;
 
 // whether to print verbose output (i.e. not capturing LAMMPS screen output).
diff --git a/unittest/python/test_python_package.cpp b/unittest/python/test_python_package.cpp
index e04be89df1..07b9a29f28 100644
--- a/unittest/python/test_python_package.cpp
+++ b/unittest/python/test_python_package.cpp
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ using LAMMPS_NS::utils::split_words;
 namespace LAMMPS_NS {
 using ::testing::Eq;
 using ::testing::HasSubstr;
-using ::testing::MatchesRegex;
+using ::testing::ContainsRegex;
 using ::testing::StrEq;
 
 class PythonPackageTest : public LAMMPSTest {
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ TEST_F(PythonPackageTest, python_variable)
     std::string output = CAPTURE_OUTPUT([&] {
         command("print \"${sq}\"");
     });
-    ASSERT_THAT(output, MatchesRegex("print.*2.25.*"));
+    ASSERT_THAT(output, ContainsRegex("print.*2.25.*"));
 }
 
 TEST_F(PythonPackageTest, InlineFunction)
diff --git a/unittest/testing/core.h b/unittest/testing/core.h
index c922e96cc0..81a7112934 100644
--- a/unittest/testing/core.h
+++ b/unittest/testing/core.h
@@ -28,20 +28,20 @@
 
 using namespace LAMMPS_NS;
 
-using ::testing::MatchesRegex;
+using ::testing::ContainsRegex;
 
 #define TEST_FAILURE(errmsg, ...)                                                               \
     if (Info::has_exceptions()) {                                                               \
         ::testing::internal::CaptureStdout();                                                   \
         ASSERT_ANY_THROW({__VA_ARGS__});                                                        \
         auto mesg = ::testing::internal::GetCapturedStdout();                                   \
-        ASSERT_THAT(mesg, MatchesRegex(errmsg));                                                \
+        ASSERT_THAT(mesg, ContainsRegex(errmsg));                                               \
     } else {                                                                                    \
         if (platform::mpi_vendor() != "Open MPI") {                                             \
             ::testing::internal::CaptureStdout();                                               \
             ASSERT_DEATH({__VA_ARGS__}, "");                                                    \
             auto mesg = ::testing::internal::GetCapturedStdout();                               \
-            ASSERT_THAT(mesg, MatchesRegex(errmsg));                                            \
+            ASSERT_THAT(mesg, ContainsRegex(errmsg));                                           \
         } else {                                                                                \
             std::cerr << "[          ] [ INFO ] Skipping death test (no exception support) \n"; \
         }                                                                                       \