whimper

1 of 2

verb

whim·​per ˈ(h)wim-pər 

whimpered; whimpering ˈ(h)wim-p(ə-)riŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to make a low whining plaintive or broken sound

2

: to complain or protest with or as if with a whimper

whimper

2 of 2

noun

1

: a whimpering cry or sound

2

: a petulant complaint or protest

the bill passed without a whimper

Synonyms

Verb

• bleat
• mewl
• pule

Noun

• beef
• bitch
• bleat
• carp
• complaint
• fuss
• grievance
• gripe
• grouch
• grouse
• grumble
• holler
• kvetch
• lament
• miserere
• moan
• murmur
• plaint
• squawk
• wail
• whine
• whinge [British]
• yammer

Examples of whimper in a Sentence

Verb

I could hear the puppy whimpering.

She whimpered about having to get up early.

“Where are you going?” she whimpered.

Noun

I could hear the puppy's whimpers.

patiently posed for dozens of photographs without so much as a whimper

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Fast forward to the present day, Jesse spoke softly to Jenn, who was still crying and whimpering as Devin sat next to her on the sofa. —Kimi Robinson, USA TODAY, 4 Sep. 2024

Layla stands up, whimpering again, and goes closer to the screen for a better look. —David Faris, Newsweek, 9 July 2024

Noun

On Wednesday, however, Miller’s dreadful sophomore campaign essentially ended with a whimper. —Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2024

Enlarge / Hard drives, unfortunately, tend to die not with a spectacular and sparkly bang, but with a head-is-stuck whimper. —Kevin Purdy, Ars Technica, 12 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

imitative

First Known Use

Verb

1513, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

circa 1700, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing whimper

• without a whimper

Kids Definition

whimper

1 of 2 verb

whim·​per ˈhwim-pər 

ˈwim-

whimpered; whimpering -p(ə-)riŋ 

: to utter weak interrupted cries

whimpered in pain

whimper

2 of 2 noun

: a whimpering cry