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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
-
Chuck went viral on social media after the NBC Sports Bay Area broadcast repeatedly showed him kicking, screaming and crying in family members’ arms — reacting to the family’s celebrations of Susac’s big day.—
Michael McGough,
Sacbee.com,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Perhaps the path forward is not only for those holding the signs, but also for those who stop being spectators — like the young woman to my left on Saturday who suddenly began to cry, or the older woman who, after talking about blues music, felt the need to tell me that this is not good for anyone.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
An employee reached out to Summers and Taylor to complain.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Coaches Dawn Staley of South Carolina and Geno Auriemma of UConn had a heated courtside exchange afterward as Auriemma, in character, complained about the officiating and proved an ungracious loser, but at least apologized a day later.—
Greg Cote
April 5,
Miami Herald,
5 Apr. 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
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Rabell was wearing her nightgown, sobbing, shaking and slumped against her cane when Horta picked her up, Horta said.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Family members, wearing yellow with buttons that pictured Preston, sobbed throughout much of the hearing.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Kaley denied being abused or neglected, though Meta’s attorneys did show some Instagram posts about her mother screaming at her.—
Jeannie Suk Gersen,
New Yorker,
9 Apr. 2026
-
In a sea of gray-toned suits and uniforms, the woman trying to soothe her crying baby comes across as an outlier even before a belligerent young salaryman starts screaming at her for disturbing the peace.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In 13 years, not a single ethics complaint by any staff in his office or any other office has ever been lodged.—
Ben Paviour,
Sacbee.com,
8 Apr. 2026
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Demuth now has seven days to refer both the complaints to the House Ethics Committee for consideration and hearings will be scheduled to discuss each filing.—
Caroline Cummings,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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 10 Apr. 2026.
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