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

This makes Solo an interesting foil for Nichols, a whimpering man-child to her hypercompetent and quiet loner. —Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 17 Jan. 2025

That said, the whimpering Chamberlain still gives me the heebie-jeebies. —Ollie Barder, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2024

Noun

But that dry spell looks set to end — and not with a whimper. —Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2025

Air raid sirens blared in the background, and the only other audible noise was the terrified whimpers of the person holding the camera. —Vox Staff, Vox, 10 Jan. 2025

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