whimper

verb whim·per \ ˈhwim-pər , ˈwim- \

Updated on: 12 Apr 2018

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

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
The Labrador retrievers were discovered last week by a man tending trees who heard the canines whining and whimpering, according to the County News Center.

— debbi baker, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Two dogs trapped for days rescued from Fallbrook drainage pipe," 29 Aug. 2017
Because of Dylann Roof, Felicia Sanders had been forced to play dead by lying in her dying son's blood, while holding her hand over her whimpering grandbaby's mouth.

— rachel kaadzi ghansah, GQ, "A Most American Terrorist: The Making of Dylann Roof," 21 Aug. 2017
Animals turned blue and whimpered and died, their eyes bulging and their skin covered over with frost.

— joanna robinson, vanityfair.com, "Why Game of Thrones Fans Saw That Hideous Dragon Twist Coming," 20 Aug. 2017
Animals turned blue and whimpered and died, their eyes bulging and their skin covered over with frost.

— joanna robinson, HWD, "Why Game of Thrones Fans Saw That Hideous Dragon Twist Coming," 20 Aug. 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

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

For most Jews, Passover ends with barely a whimper.

— florence steinberger, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Mimouna sweets, a Moroccan tradition, herald the end of Passover," 3 Apr. 2018
Capping weeks of volatility, the market ended the quarter with a whimper as concerns about privacy issues and regulatory scrutiny in the tech sector weighed on the broader market.

— NBC News, "Tech sector's woes create ripple effects across the market," 30 Mar. 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
But what mystifies me to this day is how an only nominally charismatic salesman or holy man is able to persuade otherwise reasonable people to part with their will and their wallets with nary a whimper.

— david weiss, Newsweek, "Disgraced Preacher Jim Bakker's New Doomsday Pitch," 27 Mar. 2016
From Seidel: In the end, Michigan finished its season with a whimper, losing its third straight, the only Big Ten team to lose a bowl game.

— dave clark, Cincinnati.com, "Michigan columnist blames Harbaugh for 'monumental collapse' in bowl game," 3 Jan. 2018
In the end, Michigan finished its season with a whimper, losing its third straight, the only Big Ten team to lose a bowl game.

— jeff seidel, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan football's Jim Harbaugh hasn't accomplished anything yet," 2 Jan. 2018
Last year started out with a bang as big energy companies like Exxon Mobil spent billions of dollars to bone up in booming areas like the Permian Basin, but the M&A activity closed out the fourth quarter with a whimper.

— jordan blum, Houston Chronicle, "Energy sector running low on "mega seals" with conservative spending," 26 Jan. 2018
The Georgia Bulldogs had one of their greatest seasons ever, but the Falcons’ season died with a pathetic whimper in Philadelphia.

— george mathis, AJC.com, "A homegrown cure for what ails Atlanta’s pro sports teams," 18 Jan. 2018