bleat 1 of 2

noun

Definition of bleatnext
as in whine
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment a very patient, understanding person who accepts life's inconveniences without a bleat

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bleat

2 of 2

verb

ˈblēt How to pronounce bleat (audio)
1
as in to complain
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely as far as the slumlord was concerned, the unhappy tenants were just bleating about nothing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to whimper
to utter feeble plaintive cries the baby bleated softly as he woke up, then smiled

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bleat
Noun
Late that afternoon, Flint was sitting quietly against his tree and using a Primos can call to make bleats. — Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 3 Dec. 2025 Lewis Black’s rant against protein Doritos was classic Gen-X complaining, the kind of thing Denis Leary used to bleat between music videos on MTV back when MTV had music videos and not just endless reruns of pre-unionization Ridiculousness. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
Justin Fletcher returns as the bleating voice of Shaun and the flock, joined by John Sparkes, and Kate Harbour as voice talent in the dialog-free feature. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026 When Sneaky Snook in his mail truck happened upon the wreckage near the boundary of Meredith Downs, sheep were scattered along the roadside and the fence, bleating, dazed. — Literary Hub, 5 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bleat
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bleat
  1. whine
  2. complain
  3. whimper
  4. moan
  5. scream
  6. cry
  7. complaint
  8. lament
Noun
  • Our Chesapeake Bay Retriever dog saw them too and enthusiastically let out a small whine.
    — Kody Lostroh, Denver Post, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The mystic whine of Christine Ott and Mathieu Gabry’s score carries us into a hidden world of ancient Thai deities living inside the mountain’s caves and tunnels.
    — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of whine
Verb
  • Someone else even complained about the self-clean feature ruining their appliance.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Nov. 2026
  • By July, morale among immigration officers had dipped below its nadir during the Biden Administration, with agents now complaining of being overextended, inundated with novice recruits, and undermined by inflammatory rhetoric from on high.
    — Francisco Cantú, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of complain
Verb
  • When El Viejo del Costal (Michael Galvan) appeared onstage during a recent performance, draped in rough burlap, his movements liquid and slithering, a kid in the audience whimpered.
    — Laura Zornosa, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Over the course of two hours, witnesses watched and listened as Christa Pike cried, whimpered and snored through Tennessee’s attempt to execute her.
    — Keri Blakinger, ProPublica, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of whimper
Noun
  • Bel’s father took a long look at Conner’s painting, then let out a loud moan and wept.
    — Edwidge Danticat, New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Lori can hardly speak, relying on a young nurse who sits at her side to translate her low, pained moans.
    — Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of moan
Verb
  • Upon arriving at Bottiglierivega's door, a police sergeant heard screaming and spotted blood nearby.
    — Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Officers arrived at the scene and found people screaming as a man was lying in the street, suffering from gunshot wounds.
    — Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of scream
Verb
  • There’s an emotional sequence with the young child Akiko crying that involves her parents.
    — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 7 Nov. 2026
  • When Lebrun returned to Florida, his two children — a son and a daughter — both cried.
    — Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of cry
Noun
  • Guzman has an April 2009 conviction of driving drunk and causing injury to another person in Sacramento County, according to the complaint.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Concerts at the stadium have been suspended since 2024 following complaints from neighbors about excessive noise.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of complaint
Noun
  • Then comes the inevitable lament that cast iron is too much work.
    — Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The child studying English was met with loving lament, while the one pursuing computer science at Stanford University was the flag post of family pride.
    — Kamau Bobb October 21, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of lament

Browse Nearby Words

bleary-eyed
bleat
bleated
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bleat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bleat. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of wabi-sabi

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
woman sitting on floor holding book in front of her face on pink background
Famous Novels, Last Lines Quiz Needless to say, spoiler alert.
See All