as in moan
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment
the perennial whine that movies aren't as good as they used to be
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to complain
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
1
as in complaining
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in whiny
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in crying
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 whine
Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
Families fall asleep to the thump of nearby airstrikes and the constant whine of an Israeli drone overhead.
—Raf Sanchez, NBC News, 25 Dec. 2024
Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
What’s the over/under on how many posts until the first whine about too much Wrexham ?
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2025
Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024
Or that their child’s whims, extreme whining, or a physical demonstration of their tantrum should be overlooked.
—Ashley J. Dimella Fox News, Fox News, 21 Sep. 2024
Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024
Han then used a tuning fork that was set to the tone that is produced by a flies’ whining wings.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 4 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for whine
Noun
Fritz revved the engine, a desperate, needling whine, and the vessel lurched down the airstrip, the chute billowing awake behind him.
—Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
Families fall asleep to the thump of nearby airstrikes and the constant whine of an Israeli drone overhead.
—Raf Sanchez, NBC News, 25 Dec. 2024
Verb
Lynch mocked Bayley for wearing everybody’s shirts and dancing to everybody’s music while still whining about not being a bigger star.
—Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
What’s the over/under on how many posts until the first whine about too much Wrexham ?
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2025
Noun
As the Dodgers officially welcomed their latest gazillionaire pitcher to a remodeling Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, the churning of the bulldozers in the infield was momentarily drowned out by the whining around the baseball world.
—Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024
Or that their child’s whims, extreme whining, or a physical demonstration of their tantrum should be overlooked.
—Ashley J. Dimella Fox News, Fox News, 21 Sep. 2024
Verb
As the Dodgers officially welcomed their latest gazillionaire pitcher to a remodeling Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, the churning of the bulldozers in the infield was momentarily drowned out by the whining around the baseball world.
—Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024
Han then used a tuning fork that was set to the tone that is produced by a flies’ whining wings.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 4 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for whine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whine
whiny
Adjective
-
Ellis doesn’t see the point in appeasing a few whiny observers anyway.—
Lindsay Schnell,
New York Times,
21 May 2025
-
My counterpoint was that Adams already has tried, but got skewered as whiny and defensive.—
Tim Graham,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whine. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share