whimper

verb

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whim·per | \ ˈ(h)wim-pər

whimpered; whimpering\ ˈ(h)wim-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 Whenever the chair would hit a small bump, Mom would whimper in pain. — Scott Bengston, Star Tribune, 3 Aug. 2020 This game started like many Yates games start - the opponent shows spunk before hope of quieting the Lions and this streak goes from plentiful to whimpering. — Adam Coleman, Houston Chronicle, 2 Mar. 2020 Chuck cried and whimpered and suddenly slipped out of his collar. — Jeff Seidel, Detroit Free Press, 30 Mar. 2020 In August, the small canine was found whimpering in the yard of a home in Wandiligong, a city in Australia’s state of Victoria, according to CNN. — Kelli Bender, PEOPLE.com, 4 Nov. 2019 By 1965, a few juveniles were rolling on their backs and whimpering for attention, just like puppies. — Popular Science, 10 Feb. 2020 To feel your heart breaking at the sight of a tiny gray-faced boy whimpering in front of a door—what does this do but secrete a little more misery into the atmosphere? — Christian Wiman, Harper's magazine, 20 Jan. 2020 Louisville put together a decade full of strong teams, with the obvious exception of a dismal 2018, and Kentucky whimpered at the decade’s start but has now reached four straight bowl games. — Hayes Gardner, The Courier-Journal, 31 Dec. 2019 But those surveillance feeds could not show what was happening in an underground tunnel, much less detect if Mr. al-Baghdadi was whimpering or crying. — New York Times, 27 Oct. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The soft and annoying Boston Celtics of 2020-21 were eliminated from the playoffs Tuesday evening in Brooklyn, a 123-109 noncompetitive whimper at the end of one of the most disappointing local sports seasons of all time. — BostonGlobe.com, 2 June 2021 The company’s Steam Machine push that began in late 2015 ended with a whimper three years ago. — Ian Paul, PCWorld, 26 May 2021 The second impeachment trial of Donald Trump ended with a whimper Saturday afternoon, leaving time for the long weekend in honor of, yes, presidents. — Walter Shapiro, The New Republic, 13 Feb. 2021 Four years of roaring commotion are ending in a whimper. — Anchorage Daily News, 17 Jan. 2021 The pandemic will end with a whimper, not a roar, the piece suggests. — Robin Lloyd, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2021 The final six Dodgers hitters went down without a whimper. — Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2021 His season has started with a whimper, much like previous Aprils. — Star Tribune, 14 Apr. 2021 The end is coming in more of a whimper than a bang—restaurants are being starved into extinction. — Robert St. John, WSJ, 25 Jan. 2021

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.