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
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The kids couldn’t receive direct messages from non-followers and algorithms would be adjusted so they couldn’t be targeted by specific advertisements.—
Carole Carlson,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
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School nutrition staff and vendors use the event to test new recipes and get feedback from the very kids who will be eating them.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
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For families As mentioned, while the main property is 13 years and older, Auric House is suitable for children of all ages.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
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So far, its children’s hospital hasn’t admitted any measles patients, doctors said.—
Jennifer Berry Hawes,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Spike had sired three elephant calves at other zoos, but none survived.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
4 Feb. 2026
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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
Noun
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The cub’s selfish decisions lead to the tree laying itself across a chasm to save its surrogate child.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
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Andrea showed videos on her phone of their huge boys, born just eighteen months apart, lion cubs who played high school soccer.—
Allegra Goodman,
Literary Hub,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Big Lake Humane Society pup Shishi also will compete for Team Ruff, while Mia Muffin is on Team Fluff.—
Jalen Williams,
Freep.com,
8 Feb. 2026
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The bats have only one baby — or pup — per year.—
Susan Montoya Bryan,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In 1999, Jesse Jackson fathered a child with Karin Stanford, the director of the Washington bureau of his organization, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
17 Feb. 2026
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Spike has fathered three other calves at other zoos but none survived, the zoo said.—
Jack Guy,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
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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What links the above is that all were begotten by one man—Andrzej Pągowski, born in 1953.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
16 Feb. 2026
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Many couples assume that physical closeness naturally begets emotional closeness, but this is not the case.—
Mark Travers,
CNBC,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Whelp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whelp. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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