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

This is how the world Ends: Just not with a whimper, Have a powerful and peaceful weekend. — Ellen Mcgirt, Fortune, "Unilever CEO Calls Out The 'Woke-Washers': RaceAhead," 21 June 2019 After nearly 20 years, the current manifestation of X-Men movies is going out with a whimper. — Lindsey Bahr, USA TODAY, "'Dark Phoenix' has the worst X-Men opening ever, loses to 'The Secret Life of Pets 2'," 9 June 2019 With Jose Pekerman's contract with Colombia expiring in July, El Profe will be keen to see his tenure with the Colombian national side end with a bang as opposed to a whimper. — SI.com, "2018 FIFA World Cup Team Preview: Analysing Colombia's Chances at the Tournament," 6 June 2018 The observation of a large white dwarf that seems to have been the product of two titchy white dwarfs may support the whimper side. — Chris Lee, Ars Technica, "Two white dwarfs collide, may end up as neutron star," 29 May 2019 Unless physicists zero in on their target soon, the decade of the WIMP could end not with a bang but a whimper. — Jennifer Ouellette, Quanta Magazine, "In the Hunt for Dark Matter, Promises to Keep?," 18 July 2013 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

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.