as in kid
a young person who is between infancy and adulthood
playtime's over, it's time to gather up the whelps and head home
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Recent Examples of whelp
Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
The alpha male was a foster, and his mate whelped — or gave birth — during the same week, making the pack an ideal candidate to receive pups.
—Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 29 July 2024
When a captive mother whelps, or gives birth on her own, managers match her pups with a wild den using GPS coordinates from radio collars placed on packs’ breeding alpha male and female.
—Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 3 May 2024
Given its importance as one of two Northwest Atlantic harp seal whelping grounds, the area is one of Nat Geo’s Best Trips for 2020.
—Jennifer Hayes, National Geographic, 19 Dec. 2019
And from Susan’s line, the queen’s breeding program at the Kennels of Windsor whelped hundreds of corgi puppies.
—William Booth, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2018
From the queen's breeding program at the Kennels of Windsor, hundreds of royal corgis have been whelped.
—William Booth, chicagotribune.com, 18 Apr. 2018
Noun
Owners can help the process by giving them a whelping box.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
The alpha male was a foster, and his mate whelped — or gave birth — during the same week, making the pack an ideal candidate to receive pups.
—Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 29 July 2024
When a captive mother whelps, or gives birth on her own, managers match her pups with a wild den using GPS coordinates from radio collars placed on packs’ breeding alpha male and female.
—Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 3 May 2024
Given its importance as one of two Northwest Atlantic harp seal whelping grounds, the area is one of Nat Geo’s Best Trips for 2020.
—Jennifer Hayes, National Geographic, 19 Dec. 2019
And from Susan’s line, the queen’s breeding program at the Kennels of Windsor whelped hundreds of corgi puppies.
—William Booth, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2018
From the queen's breeding program at the Kennels of Windsor, hundreds of royal corgis have been whelped.
—William Booth, chicagotribune.com, 18 Apr. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whelp
Noun
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And just traveling the world with my kids and my wife, and being able to eat and explore different flavors with them, has turned into this.—
Kenneth J. Williams Jr,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
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In it, captivating images showed Black kids in preppy and collegiate wear, lounging on the porches of million-dollar waterfront homes, overlooking Inkwell Beach.—
Meagan Jordan,
Rolling Stone,
17 Aug. 2025
Noun
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She is survived by her children, Neil, Grey and Julia Larsen; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.—
Jeff Suess,
The Enquirer,
21 Aug. 2025
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The version passed by Senate Republicans earlier this month contains several key elements, but fewer provisions to curb marketing to children.—
Vivian Jones,
The Tennessean,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But at the movie’s end, Travis accepts one of the puppies Old Yeller sired before his death.—
Victoria Edel,
People.com,
25 June 2025
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More than 13 years after co-creating Chicago Fire and thus helping sire the popular #OneChicago Universe, Derek Haas was looking to break free of the broadcast procedural formula, with Prime Video‘s Countdown.—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
20 June 2025
Noun
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That led to a chaotic event shut down days early after 300-plus bears were killed, including at least 38 females with cubs, meaning the young bears probably died too.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
13 Aug. 2025
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Do not approach bears or intrude between a female bear and her cubs.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The Seal Society was instrumental in the city’s decision in 2014 to close the beach at La Jolla’s Children’s Pool to the public from Dec. 15 to May 15 annually to keep humans and harbor seals separated during the seals’ pupping season.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 July 2025
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Watching Baby Elephant Seals At Point Reyes National Seashore March marks the final weeks of elephant seal pupping season, which means this is the time when visitors can see the most baby seals on the beaches of Point Reyes National Seashore.—
Emese Maczko,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Crowded House shared the video in question to their Facebook page on Saturday (Aug. 9), with the clip featuring AI renditions of TVNZ journalist Simon Dallow and frontman Neil Finn discussing the false claim the musician had fathered a child at the age of 67.—
Tyler Jenke,
Billboard,
14 Aug. 2025
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Pierre would go on to father a daughter, Sarah, with Deborah Margaret Ryland Coyne in 1991.—
Meredith Kile,
People.com,
31 July 2025
Verb
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After getting rescued at a young age, a tuxedo kitten immediately claimed his owner's cat as his own new mommy, and internet users can't cope with the heartwarming relationship the two have developed.—
Gordon G. Chang,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Apr. 2025
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Local authorities were able to coax the bobcat kitten out of the tree and bring it some comfort.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA TODAY,
25 July 2023
Verb
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And like with other Southern stalwarts (think sweet tea and fried chicken), where a taste undoubtedly leads to seconds, one trip to the Smokies always begets a return visit.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
13 Aug. 2025
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Thinking creatures sought out the uranium, coaxed it to beget plutonium, and taught a dead star how to scream out against humanity—twice.—
Charles Pellegrino,
Deadline,
31 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whelp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whelp. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.
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