as in whine
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment
patiently posed for dozens of photographs without so much as a whimper
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to cry
to utter feeble plaintive cries
the dog whimpered to be let in
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to complain
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
a good-hearted person, but given to whimpering about trifles
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of whimper
Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
The Hawks ended their trip out west not with a bang but with very much a whimper.
—Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Tavleen Tarrant, NBC news, 28 Dec. 2025
Anyway, Merle whimpers for about a minute before Kyle delivers multiple kill shots.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 28 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for whimper
Noun
The season respawns, with neither bang nor whimper but a three-cone drill.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
The Hawks ended their trip out west not with a bang but with very much a whimper.
—Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Verb
In a large tent, veterinarians and volunteers work together to place an IV into the leg of a small, whimpering puppy.
—Tavleen Tarrant, NBC news, 28 Dec. 2025
Anyway, Merle whimpers for about a minute before Kyle delivers multiple kill shots.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 28 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for whimper
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whimper
Noun
-
Village sounds of chickens and goats were pierced by the distant whine of commercial jets climbing out of Agadir’s international airport.—
Kevin West,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Mar. 2026
-
No suspicious whine in the air, no burning of pungent oils to put off biters.—
Antonia Quirke,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Jamaica born About a hundred people gathered to lay Wilson to rest, singing, crying and laughing while remembering his kind heart, his hard work and his famous barbecue ribs and chicken wings.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Jonathan Kennedy, a tow truck operator, cried too.—
Emerson Clarridge
Updated March 27,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Afterward, a student in the audience complained to his parents that, at the event, the deaths of Palestinian civilians had been characterized as collateral damage—a regrettable but unavoidable consequence of the battle against Hamas.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The driver and passenger in the BMW complained of pain.—
Brandon Downs,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Where my world was hemmed in by ridgelines and holler roads, Mary Lennox’s world was hemmed in by fog and wind and the low moan of a manor house that seemed to breathe on its own.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Mar. 2026
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Under Hiller, the Kings went into the Olympic break with a whimper and came out of it with a moan.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Haugh buried his head in the hardwood and sobbed.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
23 Mar. 2026
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Liaw replied with a string of sobbing-face emojis, the indictment states, and then kept working with Chang and Sun, authorities say.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The voice-over exchange on racial identity is played as obvious parody — the satire screaming its head off in case anyone should question the play’s point of view.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Mar. 2026
-
One video shows black smoke streaming out of a building where a wall is painted blue with flowers and the sound of a woman can be heard screaming.—
Marin Scott,
NBC news,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Bianco claimed his agency was investigating a complaint from a local group alleging a possible discrepancy in which about 45,800 more votes were reported to California's Secretary of State.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
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Judging from the volume and tenor of user complaints, weather might be second only to social media as a space in need of fresh disruption.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Justin Fletcher returns as the bleating voice of Shaun and the flock, joined by John Sparkes, and Kate Harbour as voice talent in the dialog-free feature.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Mar. 2026
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When Sneaky Snook in his mail truck happened upon the wreckage near the boundary of Meredith Downs, sheep were scattered along the roadside and the fence, bleating, dazed.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Whimper.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whimper. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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