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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

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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

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

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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
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 Here came Corgan, bleating a ballad that was genuinely moving, and people wanted to hear it. — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 3 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
  • 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
  • Meanwhile, turbo noise fills the cabin alongside the odd electric motor whine.
    — Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of whine
Verb
  • Many advocates and lawmakers have complained that the system updates too slowly and contains too much inaccurate or missing information, allowing ICE to shield the locations of detainees for days or weeks.
    — Ryan J. Foley, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026
  • China is demanding the US ease export bans on high-tech goods, like chipmaking gear; the US bitterly complains about Chinese overproduction and transhipment.
    — Andy Browne, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of complain
Verb
  • And then the child began to whimper, slowly waking from her sleep.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Pancho, a heavy-bodied Airedale, whimpered and rubbed against my leg with the expectation of excitement to come.
    — Frank C. Hibben, Outdoor Life, 15 July 2026
Definition of whimper
Noun
  • Wails and moans of grief interspersed the chanting, until the small coffin was lowered into the grave.
    — Victoria Davies, Rolling Stone, 31 Aug. 2026
  • On the second call, the medical alert company employee connected a local 911 call-taker to audio from the home, where the woman's moans of pain and threats by a man could be heard.
    — David Clarey, jsonline.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of moan
Verb
  • The payoff to that trick leaves Kumail and Gianmarco screaming, first in thrilled disbelief at what Jake pulls off, then in frustration at Maria’s vote.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Instead, Williams screamed out in pain and could not carry himself off the field.
    — Marissa Sulek, CBS News, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of scream
Verb
  • The father-daughter pair embraced as Verlander started to cry, and the crowd quickly rose to their feet for a standing ovation.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2026
  • Paramount’s Heart of the Beast leaves audiences moved and crying, including Deadline chief critic Pete Hammond.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of cry
Noun
  • The final result was visually awkward and earned so many complaints on social media that McLendon-Covey even weighed in at the time.
    — Zack Sharf, Variety, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The initial complaint, filed in May 2025, also included false imprisonment and conversion as causes of action, which are not included in the latest complaint.
    — Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of complaint
Noun
  • Williams intermittently cuts to ominous exterior shots of a dark church and layers in a score of hymnal lament.
    — Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 15 Sep. 2026
  • That ambiguity is echoed in Banks’ score, which takes on the tone of a lament and a celebration, frustration and hope, struggle and liberation, the quest for transcendence in the face of the challenges posed by daunting inequities.
    — George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of lament

Browse Nearby Words

bleary-eyed
bleat
bleated
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Cite this Entry

“Bleat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bleat. Accessed 28 Sep. 2026.

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