whinny 1 of 2

as in to neigh
to make the cry typical of a horse the father whinnied and reared as his young daughter pretended to ride him

Synonyms & Similar Words

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whinny

2 of 2

noun

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 whinny
Verb
The offseason came and went with little more than a few contract whinnies from Bronco ringleaders. Luca Evans, Denver Post, 23 July 2025 Wild ponies, svelte & savage, graze in dune grasses, whinny, yawn. J.t. Townley, The New York Review of Books, 6 Mar. 2025 This works, Brian says, and leans back against the wall, the dog panting less, the faint whinny of a horse, an airplane. Paul Yoon, The New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2024 One of the horses fell on its side, its high whinny like a human scream. Nick Romano, EW.com, 12 Dec. 2022 Laughter punctuates the exaggerated whinnies, proving that the source is not in fact a horse. Kalyn Kahler, SI.com, 11 June 2018 But the methodical, meditative act of grooming a horse — brush, brush, brush — and the smell of hay and the gentle whinnies from the 1,200-pound creature have been therapy for Alger. Petula Dvorak, Washington Post, 17 May 2018 Animal grunts and growls, horse neighs and whinnies. Charles Desmarais, San Francisco Chronicle, 17 Apr. 2018 An astonishing collection of laughs — whinnies, giggles, squeals, snorts, heaves — gradually colors the narrative, until this seemingly harmless man becomes, in effect, not just a witness to savagery, but also an accessory. Jesse Green, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2018
Noun
The downy woodpecker also whinnies like a miniature horse throughout the breeding season. Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2025 Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth is one of the oldest proverbs known to humankind, whinnying back at least 1,500 years. Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 May 2024 That doesn’t include food for the horses, who start whinnying. Keith Phipps, Vulture, 22 Mar. 2024 Kenny was large for his age, with a flat, flabby face and a high, whinnying voice. Aryn Kyle, Harper's Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024 Waffles, patient and unbothered as onlookers walked around and stopped to gaze, nickered as another horse on the other side of the massive stalls whinnied. James Hartley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Jan. 2024 Some unidentified whinnying joins the cacophony that accompanies gentrification—brash and brazen, with a total disregard for anything other than its own bullish desire. Rebecca Haithcoat, GQ, 5 June 2018 The 10-year-old mare bucked, whinnied, and galloped, sensing the pride of victory. Mitchell Gladstone, Philly.com, 2 June 2018 The forecast was calling for rain the next day, an element as necessary for all this — the flowering plant life, the whinnying animal life — as is the sun. John Kelly, Washington Post, 29 Apr. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whinny
Verb
  • Across from them in their usual stalls stood the eight neighing horses.
    Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2025
  • The band joked about adding a neighing horse to the intro, and Rimes quickly inserted that sound from his plug-in collection.
    Tom Roland, Billboard, 30 Jan. 2024
Noun
  • Once upon a time the screech of the dial-up sound signaled our entry into a new realm in the form of the Internet.
    Michael Ashley, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
  • People chatter, kids laugh, seagulls screech and birds chirp.
    Zareen Syed, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The soldiers muttered encouragement; their horses nickered.
    Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY, 6 Jan. 2025
  • Waffles, patient and unbothered as onlookers walked around and stopped to gaze, nickered as another horse on the other side of the massive stalls whinnied.
    James Hartley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Jan. 2024
Noun
  • Korean pop star Cha Eun-woo draws squeals from the crowd of fans gathered out front, while security ushers Lacy through a small throng of civilians on the side of the building, up to where he’s supposed to have his photo taken.
    Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 14 Aug. 2025
  • After the initial squeals and giggles, Taylor Swift fans immediately got to work, combing all seven photos of Swift for outfit details and clues about their relationship status.
    Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 25 July 2025
Noun
  • The jarring bleat came across cellphones in Tennessee Monday morning grabbing peoples attention.
    Liz Kellar, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
  • This pageant of puppetry includes a flutter of butterflies, a goat with a plaintive bleat, a menagerie of wild animals and, at one point, a school of glowing fish.
    Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025
Noun
  • This caused crews to declare an emergency squawk 7700 — an international distress code.
    Colson Thayer, People.com, 21 Aug. 2025
  • The animals use complex clicks, squawks and whistles to call out to each other, fight and attract a mate.
    Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Nestor Lorenzo’s team lost form and went six games without a victory, but James' goal brought a roar and relief to the entire country.
    Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
  • The dull roar from the construction site cuts out.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • With Bono keeping his Cliffs of Dover yelp in check, Zooropa scales down U2's anthemic-apostles side.
    EW Staff Published, EW.com, 14 Aug. 2025
  • He is heard letting out a yelp and seen crouching down moments before the homeowners get to the door.
    Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 19 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Whinny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whinny. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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