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whimpers 1 of 2

noun

plural of whimper
as in whines
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment patiently posed for dozens of photographs without so much as a whimper

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

whimpers

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of whimper
1
as in cries
to utter feeble plaintive cries the dog whimpered to be let in

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2
as in complains
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely a good-hearted person, but given to whimpering about trifles

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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 whimpers
Noun
At the hospital in Dollow, mothers sat shoulder to shoulder on narrow beds holding frail children, some too weak to cry while others let out soft whimpers. — ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026 Earlier this month, a Gardena police officer responded to a report that there were whimpers and cries coming from a self-compacting trash can outside a church. — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026 As the puppy lets out another barrage of whimpers, the kitten then looks directly at the camera, as if wondering casually what's going on. — Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025 Well, a University of Texas at Arlington researcher is aiming to turn barks, howls and whimpers of man’s best friend into intelligible speech — a kind of Rosetta Stone of woof. — Miriam Fauzia, Boston Herald, 12 Oct. 2025 The leitmotif of unanswered doorbells, unacknowledged wails, and unsoothed whimpers punctuates the passivity of Epure’s surreal world. — Olivia Bennett, Variety, 12 Aug. 2025
Verb
In the video, my dog Leo whimpers at the sound of whistles. — Meg Anderson, NPR, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whimpers
  1. moans
  2. cries
  3. complains
  4. complaints
  5. sobs
  6. screams
  7. whines
  8. mutters
Noun
  • Wails and moans of grief interspersed the chanting, until the small coffin was lowered into the grave.
    — Victoria Davies, Rolling Stone, 31 Aug. 2026
  • On the second call, the medical alert company employee connected a local 911 call-taker to audio from the home, where the woman's moans of pain and threats by a man could be heard.
    — David Clarey, jsonline.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of moans
Verb
  • In the kitchen, Shannon cries because Vicki, who was so excited about this trip, has basically gone nonverbal.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Cassie Ventura cries during harrowing first day of Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial testimonyNeed a news break?
    — Sameen Chaudhry, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of cries
Verb
  • There’ll always be someone who doesn’t like it, who complains about it.
    — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Erin then complains about her daughter and drones on about all sorts of things that no one can even pretend to care about.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of complains
Noun
  • Sturridge’s speech was one thing, but there will be more serious complaints from Brazil if people feel their great hope is being overlooked.
    — Jack Lang, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The Wisconsin Elections Commission referred two complaints to the Brown County district attorney's office, paving the way for prosecutors to decide if Musk should be charged.
    — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of complaints
Verb
  • The dramatic clip finds Reid and a male love interest performing an armed robbery at a convenience store before enjoying a romance and running from the cops — who ultimately cuff the man in the end, as the Missing star sobs in fear.
    — Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026
  • Her endless screams and sobs echo back to the agonized wailing of The Mist’s David Drayton, who murdered his child and friends for nothing.
    — Josh Weiss, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
Definition of sobs
Verb
  • The 30-year-old former France international has spent most of his career on the wing and hardly screams ‘oven-ready solution’ either.
    — Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Hathaway screams into a walkie talkie, encouraging them to jump out of the building.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of screams
Verb
  • At one point, when Reagan suggests sharing missile-defense technology, Gorbachev stands up and whines about how America will not even share dairy technology so that the Soviets can provide milk to their children.
    — Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The snippet ends just as the cat whines and tucks its head beneath the barrier, not far from the officer filming the scene.
    — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026
Definition of whines
Verb
  • That’s when Way mutters the p-word — under his breath for plausible deniability, but certainly still with the intention of being heard, smirking at the sound of my laughter.
    — Selome Hailu, Variety, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Wilde read on social media that the tune actually inspired a movie theater meet-cute, as Nash mutters profanity mid-song.
    — Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 11 July 2026
Definition of mutters

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whimpers
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Cite this Entry

“Whimpers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whimpers. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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