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
-
Byron is reportedly married and shares two kids with his wife, who is not Cabot.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
24 July 2025
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In one photo, the former professional athlete could be seen towering over his kids and wearing a white matching set.—
Hannah Sacks,
People.com,
24 July 2025
Noun
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The Elmore County Sheriff’s Office and Elmore County paramedics responded to a call at 1:47 p.m. Saturday about an object piercing a windshield and injuring a child, the Sheriff’s Office said Monday in a news release.—
Sally Krutzig,
Idaho Statesman,
14 July 2025
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Around this time, a person broke a window and successfully rescued a child from the home while flames began to spread, police said.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
14 July 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
-
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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Besides the cubs, the restaurant also features llamas, turtles and deer on its page on Douyin, China‘s counterpart to social media app TikTok.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
16 July 2025
-
The cub will be released if it's caught A 69-year-old Wisconsin woman is recovering after she was attacked by a black bear.—
Jillian Frankel,
People.com,
15 July 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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On June 8, Pashinyan called for Karekin II to resign after accusing him of fathering a child despite a vow of celibacy.—
Avet Demourian,
Los Angeles Times,
27 June 2025
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Her husband, Richard Larson, was determined to not have fathered the child.—
Mike Stunson
July 14,
Kansas City Star,
14 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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When audiences come to her stand-up shows, well, that’s what she’s always wanted, and the work is begetting fans who want to see more work.—
Anna Peele,
Rolling Stone,
10 July 2025
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Over time, such selectivity begets judicial overreach and erodes public trust in the impartiality of judicial decisionmaking.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whelp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whelp. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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