neigh 1 of 2

as in to whinny
to make the cry typical of a horse the horses neighed when the rider came into the barn

Synonyms & Similar Words

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neigh

2 of 2

noun

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 neigh
Noun
Across from them in their usual stalls stood the eight neighing horses. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2025 The band joked about adding a neighing horse to the intro, and Rimes quickly inserted that sound from his plug-in collection. Tom Roland, Billboard, 30 Jan. 2024 Laughing, always laughing—at the dickey birds hopping in the tree branches, at the urchin who was burned to a crisp by an angry mob, at the slandering neighbor woman who got turned into a neighing donkey. Okwiri Oduor, Harper's Magazine, 15 June 2022 No such juvenilia intrudes upon the rather more adult-ish proceedings of the new film The Wanting Mare, in which horses neigh and stamp at the margins of a bleak, majestic world. Jason Kehe, Wired, 12 Feb. 2021 Horse trailers lined up in rows in Island Grove Regional Park, their passengers neighing indiscriminately. John Aguilar, The Denver Post, 28 July 2019 Goats and sheep staying in the barn bleated, and horses neighed as the crowd of people grew. David Anderson, baltimoresun.com, 23 July 2019 There in the the headquarters of Togo’s secret police — the notorious Research and Intelligence Service — the captives were beaten, waterboarded and forced to kneel and neigh like horses. Siobhan O'Grady, latimes.com, 4 June 2018 Across the barn, another horse was getting new shoes and neighed. Jason Nark, Philly.com, 23 Mar. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for neigh
Verb
  • The downy woodpecker also whinnies like a miniature horse throughout the breeding season.
    Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2025
  • That doesn’t include food for the horses, who start whinnying.
    Keith Phipps, Vulture, 22 Mar. 2024
Verb
  • The soldiers muttered encouragement; their horses nickered.
    Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY, 6 Jan. 2025
  • The soldiers muttered encouragement; their horses nickered.
    Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • When the full-time whistle blew, there was a huge roar and fist pump from Tottenham’s Kevin Danso.
    James McNicholas, New York Times, 31 July 2025
  • Williams roasted rising corner DJ James on the touchdown, which drew a roar from the crowd.
    Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 30 July 2025
Noun
  • Mulch new or transplanted perennials with a 1- to 2-inch layer of compost, pine bark, or pine straw to help conserve moisture.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Their leaves shade the bark and protect it from sunburn. – Paint the bark of young trees to prevent sunburn until the trees are old enough to have dense branches.
    Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Cicadas are back at it again in 2025, already emerging in droves to announce the approach of summer with their screeches.
    Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 30 May 2025
  • The screech of an infected is the first sign of trouble.
    EW.com, EW.com, 19 May 2025
Noun
  • Korean pop star Cha Eun-woo draws squeals from the crowd of fans gathered out front, while security ushers Lacy through a small throng of civilians on the side of the building, up to where he’s supposed to have his photo taken.
    Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2025
  • After the initial squeals and giggles, Taylor Swift fans immediately got to work, combing all seven photos of Swift for outfit details and clues about their relationship status.
    Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 25 July 2025
Noun
  • Otherwise, despite some groans and squeaks after seven months of heavy use (including a couple of tween sleepovers), the couch is still beautiful and sturdy.
    Louryn Strampe, Wired News, 1 Aug. 2025
  • While it’s not used on actual babies much anymore due to health concerns, a sprinkle of baby powder can quiet squeaks, remove sand, absorb oil, and more.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 7 July 2025
Noun
  • Here’s something for Hallmark fans to cluck about: the channel has set the return date for The Chicken Sisters.
    Lynette Rice, Deadline, 26 June 2025
  • Geese on the ground cluck excitedly when other birds are circling above.
    Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 9 Sep. 2023

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Cite this Entry

“Neigh.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/neigh. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.

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