bleat

¹bleat

verb
\ˈblēt, Northern also ˈblat, Southern usually ˈblāt\

Definition of BLEAT

intransitive verb

1

a : to make the natural cry of a sheep or goat; also : to utter a similar sound b : whimper

2

a : to talk complainingly or with a whine b : blather

transitive verb

: to utter in a bleating manner

— bleat·er noun

Examples of BLEAT

1. The lamb bleated as I approached.
2. “But why can't I go?” she bleated.
3. The labor union is always bleating about the management.

Origin of BLEAT

Middle English bleten, from Old English blǣtan; akin to Latin flēre to weep, Old English bellan to roar — more at bellow

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to BLEAT

Synonyms: beef, bellyache, bitch, complain, carp, caterwaul, crab, croak, fuss, gripe, grizzle, grouch, grouse, growl, grumble, grump, holler, inveigh, keen, kick, kvetch, maunder [chiefly British], moan, murmur, mutter, nag, repine, scream, squawk, squeal, wail, whimper, whine, whinge [British], yammer, yawp (or yaup), yowl

Antonyms: crow, delight, rejoice

Related Words: object (to), protest, quarrel (with); cavil, quibble; fret, stew, worry; blubber, cry, sob; bemoan, bewail, deplore, lament

Near Antonyms: accept, bear, countenance, endure, take, tolerate; applaud, cheer, commend

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with BLEAT

beat, beet, cheat, cleat, Crete, deet, eat, feat, fleet, Geat, gleet, greet, heat, lied, meat, meet, mete, neat, peat, pleat, seat, sheet, skeet, sleet, street, suite, sweet, teat, treat, tweet, weet, wheat