whimper

1 of 2

verb

whim·​per ˈ(h)wim-pər 

whimpered; whimpering ˈ(h)wim-p(ə-)riŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to make a low whining plaintive or broken sound

2

: to complain or protest with or as if with a whimper

whimper

2 of 2

noun

1

: a whimpering cry or sound

2

: a petulant complaint or protest

the bill passed without a whimper

Synonyms

Verb

• bleat
• mewl
• pule

Noun

• beef
• bitch
• bleat
• carp
• complaint
• fuss
• grievance
• gripe
• grouch
• grouse
• grumble
• holler
• kvetch
• lament
• miserere
• moan
• murmur
• plaint
• squawk
• wail
• whine
• whinge [British]
• yammer

Examples of whimper in a Sentence

Verb

I could hear the puppy whimpering.

She whimpered about having to get up early.

“Where are you going?” she whimpered.

Noun

I could hear the puppy's whimpers.

patiently posed for dozens of photographs without so much as a whimper

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Ezra gets the ball in his hands and, after looking back at his mom while JJ whimpers excitedly, tosses the orange ball back to the dog. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025

The mumbling girl is ill and must be taken to hospital, where her mother whimpers prayers over her. —Namwali Serpell, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2025

Noun

After 19 years, the concert hall went out Friday night not with a whimper but a twang. —Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2025

Romance ends not with a bang but a whimper on Patty Loveless' strummy, somber torch song: a ring on the pillow, a key left in the door, and a Dear John note in the kitchen next to the grocery list. —James Mercadante, EW.com, 25 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

imitative

First Known Use

Verb

1513, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

circa 1700, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing whimper

• without a whimper

Kids Definition

whimper

1 of 2 verb

whim·​per ˈhwim-pər 

ˈwim-

whimpered; whimpering -p(ə-)riŋ 

: to utter weak interrupted cries

whimpered in pain

whimper

2 of 2 noun

: a whimpering cry