whimper

verb

whim·per | \ ˈhwim-pər

, ˈwim-\

whimpered; whimpering\ -p(ə-)riŋ

Definition of whimper

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

noun

Definition of whimper (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : a whimpering cry or sound

2 : a petulant complaint or protest the bill passed without a whimper

Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about whimper

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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

During the recording, which is almost eight minutes long, young children can be heard crying and whimpering while asking for Mommy and Daddy and Mami and Papi. — Alix Langone, Time, "Listen to Audio of Children Separated From Their Parents Inside Border Patrol Facilities," 20 June 2018 The first time Tim Elliott saw Winx, the pit bull was whimpering in the corner of a north-side post office, shot in the face. — Holly V. Hays, Indianapolis Star, "Dog found shot, covered in bleach adopted by IMPD officer who rescued him," 11 July 2018 Kasian’s mother whimpered and buried her head in her hands and Leibel’s brother, Cody, a high-end property developer, sat stone-faced. — Marisa Gerber, latimes.com, "'A slow, excruciating, painful death': Graphic novelist convicted in fiancee's grisly 2016 slaying," 20 June 2018 Shrieks erupted in the courtroom when the verdict was announced, and some of Cosby’s accusers whimpered and cried. — Michael R. Sisak And Claudia Lauer, BostonGlobe.com, "Bill Cosby found guilty on three counts of sexual assault," 26 Apr. 2018 Shrieks erupted in the courtroom when the verdict was announced, and some of Cosby's accusers whimpered and cried. — Michael R. Sisak And Claudia Lauer, Houston Chronicle, "'The real Bill Cosby': Comedian convicted of sexual assault," 27 Apr. 2018 Shrieks erupted in the courtroom and some of his other accusers whimpered and cried. — Bloomberg.com, "The Latest: Accuser Calls Bill Cosby 'A Raping Monster'," 26 Apr. 2018 If the world is going to end with a whimper not a bang, then some of the world’s richest people are going to whimper together in New Zealand. — Aaron Gilbreath, Longreads, "To Live and Die in Utopian New Zealand," 22 Feb. 2018 The puppy whimpered through the beginning of the flight, but eventually quieted. — Author: Martine Powers, Anchorage Daily News, "Puppy dies after being forced to ride in overhead bin on United flight," 14 Mar. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The Bob Newhart Show’’ concluded 40 years ago last month with neither a whimper nor a bang. — Travis M. Andrews, BostonGlobe.com, "How Newhart’s ‘quietly revolutionary’ sitcom changed TV," 3 May 2018 Throughout its 12-episode run, Insatiable crawls its way through a series of tired, stale gags, punching ever further downward, to finish with the most subdued of whimpers in its finale. — Constance Grady, Vox, "Netflix’s Insatiable is somehow both obscenely cruel and terminally dull," 9 Aug. 2018 This whimper of an alt-right rally raises some interesting political questions about what has transpired in the year since the tragic confrontation in Charlottesville between alt-right groups and left-wing groups like antifa left one woman dead. — The Editorial Board, WSJ, "An Alt-Right No-Show," 13 Aug. 2018 The plan died with a whimper last month in Swiss bankruptcy court. — Andrew Moseman, Popular Mechanics, "Mars One Is Now Officially Dead. But It Always Was.," 11 Feb. 2019 Unless something drastic changes in the 24 days until the Europa League final (for example, Arsenal actually being there), Wenger's reign will end with a whimper and not with a bang. — SI.com, "From the Ground: Collective Failure to Launch Sees Arsene Wenger's Long Goodbye Splutter Into Life," 22 Apr. 2018 The Republican Congress is going out with a whimper, which is a particular shame because this is the last chance for pro-growth government reform for many years. — The Editorial Board, WSJ, "The GOP’s Food-Stamp Failure," 9 Dec. 2018 This is where every emperor—and his family and staff—lived from 1420, when the 7.8-million-square-foot, 980-building compound was finished, until 1912, when the Qing dynasty went out with a whimper. — Hanya Yanagihara, Condé Nast Traveler, "50 Things to Do in Asia Before You Die," 24 Sep. 2018 The 2017/18 Premier League season ended with a bit of a whimper on Sunday. — SI.com, "6 of the Best Moments From an Entertaining Final Weekend of the Premier League Season," 14 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'whimper.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.