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whining 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of whiningnext
1
as in complaining

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2
as in whiny

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whining

2 of 3

noun

as in crying

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whining

3 of 3

verb

present participle of whine
as in screaming
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely for the whole of our vacation, the kids whined on and on about the weather

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 whining
Noun
This is why all the whining and complaining from small market teams across the sport is manipulative nonsense. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 17 Apr. 2026 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
Verb
The epic whining heard across MLB over the Tarik Skubal acquisition is evidence Andrew Friedman and Dodgers management are a masterclass in demonstrating creative leadership to cultivate a winning ballclub. — Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2026 The fact that a prominent world leader has been desperately hoping (some might say whining) for a Nobel Peace Prize is not lost on Bang. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for whining
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whining
  1. complaining
  2. whiny
  3. crying
  4. screaming
  5. protesting
  6. weeping
  7. moaning
  8. whimpering
Adjective
  • An energy vampire has bad body language, the complaining look on their face, the vocal complainer.
    — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
Definition of complaining
Adjective
  • And before the perpetually whiny and moronic peanut gallery says that sports teams have special nights all the time, that’s true, but celebrating heritage, or veterans who fought and died for this country is just an eency weency bit different than force-feeding the gay agenda at a ball game!
    — Tomi Lahren OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 June 2026
  • An assortment of fake-looking whiny babies in flashy hippie outfits accompany a Lennon rant about the counterculture’s post-’60s disillusionment.
    — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 16 May 2026
Definition of whiny
Noun
  • At home after her middle school let out on April 17, 2024, Nora’s daughter came to her crying and shaking.
    — Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The crying can become the dominant thing, and the acting is the crying as opposed to being able to convey a personality underneath all of that, being able to find the nuance of who this character is outside of the crying.
    — Brande Victorian, HollywoodReporter, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of crying
Verb
  • At the same time, Plog placed a phone call to a relative and can be heard moaning and screaming in pain.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Amazon doesn’t have to worry about affiliates screaming if the show bleeds into their late local newscasts, nor FCC overlord Brendan Carr having a meltdown over an unbleeped John Mulaney bit.
    — Josef Adalian, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of screaming
Adjective
  • The death toll includes at least 19 children, 21 non-protesting civilians, and 165 in government or security forces.
    — The Hill, The Hill, 17 Jan. 2026
  • Among the dead were 13 children and 14 non-protesting civilians, HRANA said.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Jan. 2026
Definition of protesting
Noun
  • When the curtain went up, Valencia spent the first several minutes overcome by emotion, glassy-eyed and weeping.
    — Daniel Alarcón, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Bubbling Jam Jam that’s bubbling or weeping liquid could be fermenting.
    — Lynn Andriani, Martha Stewart, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of weeping
Verb
  • At the same time, Plog placed a phone call to a relative and can be heard moaning and screaming in pain.
    — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Hall wrote in his report that Hamilton lay down in the backseat of the police vehicle, moaning and not responding, prompting first responders to give him Narcan.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of moaning
Noun
  • Scarface doesn’t just bark orders at his underlings but browbeats the whimpering Ventriloquist, giving him that warped double personality that made older characters like Two-Face so alluring.
    — Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
  • When this happens, the family finds Cassidy breathing heavily and whimpering.
    — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of whimpering

Browse Nearby Words

whinging
whining
whinings
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Cite this Entry

“Whining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whining. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

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