as in whine
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment
patiently posed for dozens of photographs without so much as a whimper
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1
as in to cry
to utter feeble plaintive cries
the dog whimpered to be let in
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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
Robert Lea, Space.com, 16 Sep. 2025
This is the way the world ends Not with a bang but a whimper.
—Reuven Perlman, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
Arkansas Online, 22 June 2025
In the ward of whimpering children, Susan Martine from South Sudan cares for her 2-year-old daughter, who has been diagnosed with severe malnutrition.
—Evelyne Musambi, Christian Science Monitor, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for whimper
Noun
While this smoldering cosmic ember state represents the end for single stars going out with a whimper rather than a bang, white dwarfs that have a stellar companion can get a second lease on life and a more conclusive and explosive end.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 16 Sep. 2025
This is the way the world ends Not with a bang but a whimper.
—Reuven Perlman, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
In the ward of whimpering children, Susan Martine from South Sudan cares for her 2-year-old daughter, who has sores after swelling caused by severe malnutrition.
—Arkansas Online, 22 June 2025
In the ward of whimpering children, Susan Martine from South Sudan cares for her 2-year-old daughter, who has been diagnosed with severe malnutrition.
—Evelyne Musambi, Christian Science Monitor, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for whimper
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whimper
Noun
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Deciphering the vocalizations involves both sound and context, as a dog’s bark or whine may be tied to its situation, Zhu said.—
Miriam Fauzia,
Boston Herald,
12 Oct. 2025
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The unfiltered electric soundtrack of the Evija goes from a piercing whine to an ear-splitting shriek.—
Tim Pitt,
Robb Report,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
My children cried themselves to sleep.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
25 Oct. 2025
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Most of us are socialized not just to suck it up, never to cry or show emotions, but also to suppress, go silent, hide, run away, act as if there is no agony.—
Kevin Powell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In that appearance, Thilly moonwalked across the floor and performed a backspin before using his allotted five minutes to complain about rising taxes, according to CBS News New York.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
25 Oct. 2025
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Another woman, 59, complained of back pain, per the outlets.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Imagine a city street at dusk, silent save for the rising sound of a collective guttural moan.—
Tom Duszynski,
The Conversation,
16 Oct. 2025
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Stein’s bedroom adjoined the room where Dodge would visit her lover at night; kept awake by the murmurings and moans, Stein lit a candle and composed a portrait of her host.—
Via Scribner,
Literary Hub,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In a video testimony, the man, whose name was not released, is seen falling to his knees and sobbing.—
Diaa Ostaz,
ABC News,
16 Oct. 2025
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And then as soon as the standing ovation started, I was started sobbing again.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The wide-leg pants have just the right amount of stretch and come in a trendy brown shade that screams autumnal fashion.—
Melony Forcier,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Oct. 2025
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Sundae screamed, and the whole motel heard her.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Difficulty concentrating is a common complaint among people experiencing SAD, Justin Puder, PhD, a psychologist based in Boca Raton, Florida, tells SELF.—
Maggie O'Neill,
SELF,
20 Oct. 2025
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With her lawsuit, Ball is seeking damages for her injuries, pain and suffering, lost earnings, disfigurement, mental anguish and more, the complaint shows.—
Julia Marnin,
Miami Herald,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The right is being horrifyingly plain in bleating their bigotry, but they’re also lost in linguistic obscurities.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
4 Sep. 2025
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Her husband, Jason Halbert, was in Los Angeles on business when alerts started bleating on his phone.—
Melonee Hurt,
The Tennessean,
4 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whimper.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whimper. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
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