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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of whimper
Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2025
Romance ends not with a bang but a whimper on Patty Loveless' strummy, somber torch song: a ring on the pillow, a key left in the door, and a Dear John note in the kitchen next to the grocery list.
—James Mercadante, EW.com, 25 Mar. 2025
Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025
The mumbling girl is ill and must be taken to hospital, where her mother whimpers prayers over her.
—Namwali Serpell, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for whimper
Noun
After 19 years, the concert hall went out Friday night not with a whimper but a twang.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2025
Romance ends not with a bang but a whimper on Patty Loveless' strummy, somber torch song: a ring on the pillow, a key left in the door, and a Dear John note in the kitchen next to the grocery list.
—James Mercadante, EW.com, 25 Mar. 2025
Verb
Ezra gets the ball in his hands and, after looking back at his mom while JJ whimpers excitedly, tosses the orange ball back to the dog.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025
The mumbling girl is ill and must be taken to hospital, where her mother whimpers prayers over her.
—Namwali Serpell, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for whimper
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whimper
Noun
-
Moscow’s escalating air war and the distinctive whine of Shaheds is now forcing Ukrainians out of their beds and into shelters and metro stations on an almost-nightly basis.—
Clare Sebastian,
CNN Money,
25 July 2025
-
That is, until you are subjected to the relentless whine of mosquitoes.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
16 July 2025
Verb
-
Cena even blamed Truth for making that kid in Brussels cry.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
-
And if home security’s been on your list, the Eufy Video Doorbell is a steal with 50% off and sharp 2K video, local storage, and smart alerts that don’t cry wolf.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Consumers have complained that stores feel less distinctive, private labels have multiplied to the point of confusion, and online shopping options lag those of competitors.—
Mark Faithfull,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
-
Trump has long complained about absentee voting, since before the COVID-19 pandemic that shut down many in-person events.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Brandon swings his head up and to the left, a moan escaping his lips.—
Scott Craven,
AZCentral.com,
10 July 2025
-
Out comes another moan, this one closer to a laugh as Brandon’s face flashes a smile.—
Scott Craven,
AZCentral.com,
10 July 2025
Verb
-
His three children and U.S. citizen wife sobbed in the car.—
Nicole Foy,
ProPublica,
31 July 2025
-
Myrtle Cook of Canada sobbed almost out of control.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
31 July 2025
Verb
-
There's just a million things available and everything's screaming at you.—
Omaid Homayun,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
-
Noem screams, before spotting a service dog in the crowd and shooting it.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Gables went to the hospital and filed a police report, per the complaint.—
Charna Flam,
People.com,
8 Aug. 2025
-
The agents told her that still images of her daughter were found on Thompson’s iCloud account, according to the complaint.—
Joe Marusak,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Hang out at the petting zoo for the best people watching There’s nothing like seeing suburbanites who probably think meat comes from Erewhon fairies stand with terror in their eyes as bleating sheep and goats swarm them asking for pellets.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
16 May 2025
-
Image Image Image In song, Johnston had an uncanny ability to capture complicated feelings with a few incisive lines, bleated sweetly over chords pounded or strummed.—
Grayson Haver Currin Eli Durst,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whimper.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whimper. Accessed 23 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share