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
Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
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
Noun
Unlikely Meathead, a whelp who spoke from a position of occasionally whiny, frequently wet-behind-the-ears insulation from life’s realities, Reiner had gray in his beard and a lengthy track record of using his podium for good.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
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
-
That money is reserved for kids who live in ZIP codes with a median family income of $150,000 or less and who won't get the $1,000 seed money from the Treasury.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
-
But the dead kid’s eyes held her to the corner of 110th.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
According to Kendall Seymour, the father of three of the children, the family did not realize the kids were missing until days after they had already been taken overseas.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
-
These and other groceries would be distributed to families who’d been too afraid to send their children to school in the weeks since an influx of agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement began operations in the city, in December.—
Emily Witt,
New Yorker,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Conspiracists have long speculated about if and how Hitler might live on: using a pseudonym in Argentina, huddling in a bunker under the Antarctic ice, or secretly siring offspring.—
Rosemary Counter,
Vanity Fair,
19 Jan. 2026
-
Kiko sired two calves, with a third due early this year.—
Erin Clements,
PEOPLE,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Additionally, puppies are able to form dual identities at the very start of their lives—part human, part dog—in a way that wolf cubs are simply incapable of doing.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
-
This female puma had two cubs that depended on her.—
Cecilia Rodriguez,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Roky, a 6-year-old terrier mix who’s the recycling and handyman pup.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Directed by Peter pupping, the 35-member ensemble will bring the warmth of the holidays to life with music by John Dowland, Handel, J.S. Bach, Tchaikovsky, Alan Hirsh’s Jazz Christmas Suite, and other festive favorites.—
Ut Community Press,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Nonetheless, none fathered children, meaning Hitler’s bloodline will indeed definitively end after this generation.—
Rosemary Counter,
Vanity Fair,
19 Jan. 2026
-
Long Lance’s maternal grandfather was a North Carolina state senator who visited Carson’s plantation often and fathered Sallie and another child with Adeline.—
David Treuer,
The Atlantic,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
Both cases were fodder for a media firestorm, begetting nightly news specials and full-length documentaries.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Jan. 2026
-
But innovation begets more innovation.—
Kate Vitasek,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Whelp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whelp. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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