as in crying
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in sobbing
to utter feeble plaintive cries
the dog whimpered to be let in
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in complaining
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
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Recent Examples of whimpering
Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Only this version of Slattery is a whimpering scaredy-cat, who unleashes the beast within at a key moment in the film.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 28 Jan. 2026
Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Tavleen Tarrant, NBC news, 28 Dec. 2025
Adjective
Multiple responders then grasped the canine by the neck and back to lift it onboard, during which the dog could be heard slightly whimpering.
—Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Only this version of Slattery is a whimpering scaredy-cat, who unleashes the beast within at a key moment in the film.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 28 Jan. 2026
Noun
How to Watch North Carolina at Syracuse Bill Belichick’s first season as North Carolina head coach is winding to a whimpering close, but an ACC win over Syracuse under the Friday Night Lights would sure turn some frowns upside down at Chapel Hill.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whimpering
Adjective
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But his crying scene in Ford v Ferrari is one for the ages.—
Michael Granberry,
Dallas News,
17 Jan. 2020
Noun
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The years gone In an interview with the Statesman, Mejia recalled her first year in jail as one spent weeping.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
17 Mar. 2026
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But Vaught complicates the idea that male weeping was universally frowned upon back then.—
Jeanette Tran,
The Conversation,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
-
Body-cam footage, included at the end of Mormon Wives’s pilot episode, showed Paul on the front porch, sobbing and barely able to breathe.—
Rebecca Jennings,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Rather than complaining and predicting economic ruin, Americans treated rationing as noble.—
Gil Troy,
New York Daily News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Some Toyota fans reacted poorly to the announcement, complaining about the loss of the hybrid version of the Highlander that Toyota has marketed since 2005.—
Keith Laing,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Sitting opposite an old people’s home in a residential corner of Paris’ 14th arrondissement, La Santé’s unassuming presence is only given away by the occasional wailing siren as prisoners are transported to and from the site.—
Joseph Ataman,
CNN Money,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Tail wagging, happy whining, and excited greetings when your husband comes home tell me Eddie likes him.—
Cathy M. Rosenthal,
San Antonio Express-News,
26 Feb. 2026
-
No politics, no posturing, no whining, just winning.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
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One minute later, Pedro Neto was yellow-carded for moaning.—
Matt Slater,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
-
While lying on the pavement, he could be heard moaning as an officer shouted at him not to move.—
Jose R. Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
13 Dec. 2025
Verb
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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
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Nunez then began raping her while Jones stuffed rocks in her mouth to try to stop her from screaming, detectives said in the report.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Whimpering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whimpering. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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