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
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
Verb
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
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
-
The driveway was already full of other cars arriving and various parents and kids taking photos like crazy and squealing.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
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They were married in 1968, with Miguel Bezos adopting her young son, and had two more kids, Christina and Mark.—
Vinod Sreeharsha,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Under the public trees, children ran exultantly between cars.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Villages have been burned, civilians executed, and children targeted.—
Kim Aris,
Time,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Bowie recently sired a calf there, making Fort Worth Zoo elephant matriarch Rasha a great-grandmother.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 Sep. 2025
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The brother lions sired several cubs over their long reign at the zoo.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In October alone, shoppers were attacked in a supermarket, a Spanish tourist was scratched by a cub at a heritage site, and a trail runner was forced to wrestle a bear in the woods before sprinting to safety.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
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Nashville Zoo has unlocked a successful mating rate by keeping cubs together at a young age, going from 20% to 40% to a 95% success rate as part of its effort to protect animal species.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Shelter volunteer Lindsay Kaplan, 34, shared the devastating clip on TikTok (@fablinds) after taking Nikki the rescue pup out for the day.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
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And in this year’s Superman, the sidekick pup Krypto was a digital version of director James Gunn’s own dog, Ozu, scanned for the role.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
His character, federal agent Nelson Van Alden, fathered two different children with two different mistresses.—
Ralphie Aversa,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
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Thus far, McKesson said Peete is believed to have fathered at least 12 children outside of his immediate family over more than 20 years.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN Money,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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As an independent music artist, Kerensa is no stranger to social media—but didn’t expect Pomelo kitten to become an internet star.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Oct. 2025
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Her carousel began with a photo of the Academy Award-winning actress sitting on the floor, out of frame so that the camera mostly captured her hands holding the black and white kitten up to the lens.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Success begot success, and in the two decades that followed, her company expanded to become a global lifestyle brand involving accessories, clothing, home goods, and more.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
6 Nov. 2025
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The first three notes of Beethoven’s Fifth beget the fourth.—
James Somers,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whelp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whelp. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
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