whimper

verb whim·per \ ˈhwim-pər , ˈwim- \

|Updated on: 20 Jun 2018

Examples: whimper in a Sentence

Definition of whimper

whimpered; whimpering play \-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

See whimper defined for English-language learners

See whimper defined for kids

Examples of whimper in a Sentence

I could hear the puppy whimpering.
She whimpered about having to get up early.
“Where are you going?” she whimpered.

Recent Examples of whimper from the Web

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
And when Amazon is involved, anyone standing in its way ends up whimpering.

— shira ovide, The Seattle Times, "Amazon’s delivery dream is a nightmare for FedEx and UPS," 11 Feb. 2018
The migrant, his body shaking, stood there, eyes wide, holding his arm, whimpering.

— alice driver, Longreads, "The Mutilated and the Disappeared," 31 Jan. 2018
Spurs were running riot, with the home fans reduced from roaring passion to whimpering despair after a clinical first-half from the visitors.

— SI.com, "Spurs Trounce Huddersfield in Devastating Display of Attacking Force," 30 Sep. 2017

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.

Origin and Etymology of whimper

imitative

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1513

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

whimper Synonyms

Phrases

kick up a fuss;

whimper

noun

Definition of whimper

1 : a whimpering cry or sound

2 : a petulant complaint or protest

the bill passed without a whimper

See whimper defined for English-language learners

Examples of whimper in a Sentence

I could hear the puppy's whimpers.
patiently posed for dozens of photographs without so much as a whimper

Recent Examples of whimper from the Web

Yet that is essentially what has happened to sepsis, an infection that kills as many Americans each year — about 250,000 — as stroke and Alzheimer’s combined — with barely a whimper.

— derek angus, STAT, "Current efforts to fight sepsis aren’t working. We need a bolder approach," 14 June 2018
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government will review plans to sell Air India after his administration’s most high-profile privatization offer ended in a whimper with no buyers showing interest in the unprofitable flag carrier.

— Fortune, "A Funny Thing Happened When India Put Its National Airline Up for Sale: No One Put in a Bid," 1 June 2018
Harden, one of the greatest offensive weapons the NBA has ever seen, went out with a whimper rather than with guns blazing.

— ben golliver, SI.com, "James Harden’s Reputation Hangs on His Response to Steph Curry’s ‘Haymaker’," 21 May 2018
The Fire finished the last of a three-games-in-seven-days strecht with a whimper, losing to the Columbus Crew, 3-0, seemingly with the gas tank running on low to empty.

— juan pimiento, chicagotribune.com, "Barcelona's perfect run ends, Liverpool finish top four and the best of the soccer weekend," 13 May 2018
Chelsea ended the season without even a whimper, and in the Europa League.

— steve douglas, The Seattle Times, "Liverpool into Champions League, Man City reaches 100 points," 13 May 2018
But by 2013, with the shuttle program grounded and America’s half century of space aspirations having ended with bangs and whimpers, 39A was rusting away and weeds were growing through its flame trench.

— walter isaacson, New York Times, "In This Space Race, Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk Are Competing to Take You There," 24 Apr. 2018
The last chance for a partisan vote on the ACA repeal-and-replace effort ends with a whimper as Sens.

— julie rovner, Washington Post, "Timeline: Despite GOP’s Failure To Repeal Obamacare, The ACA Has Changed," 5 Apr. 2018
Its final whimper came just months before the '94 congressionals, ending a long, fierce battle on an abysmal note for Democrats.

— Newsweek, "Analysis," 14 Mar. 2018

First Known Use of whimper

circa 1700

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

whimper Synonyms

Synonyms

beef, bleat, carp, complaint, fuss, grievance, gripe, grouch, grouse, grumble, holler, lament, moan, murmur, plaint, squawk, wail, whine, yammer;

Near Antonyms

commendation, compliment, plaudit;

acclaim, applause, praise;

approval, endorsement (also indorsement), sanction;

WHIMPER Defined for English Language Learners

whimper

verb

Definition of whimper for English Language Learners

: to make a quiet crying sound
: to complain in a weak or annoying way

whimper

noun

Definition of whimper for English Language Learners

: a quiet crying sound
: a mild expression of complaint or protest

WHIMPER Defined for Kids

whimper

verb whim·per \ ˈhwim-pər , ˈwim- \

Definition of whimper for Students

whimpered; whimpering

: to make a quiet crying sound

whimper

noun

Definition of whimper for Students

: a whining cry

Learn More about whimper

See words that rhyme with whimper Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for whimper Spanish Central: Translation of whimper Nglish: Translation of whimper for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of whimper for Arabic speakers

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whimper

Definition of whimper

Examples of whimper in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of whimper

whimper Synonyms

Synonyms

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whimper

Definition of whimper

Examples of whimper in a Sentence

Recent Examples of whimper from the Web

First Known Use of whimper

whimper Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

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WHIMPER Defined for English Language Learners

whimper

Definition of whimper for English Language Learners

whimper

Definition of whimper for English Language Learners

WHIMPER Defined for Kids

whimper

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whimper

Definition of whimper for Students

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