neigh 1 of 2

as in to whinny
to make the cry typical of a horse the horses neighed when the rider came into the barn

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

neigh

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 neigh
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 Laughing, always laughing—at the dickey birds hopping in the tree branches, at the urchin who was burned to a crisp by an angry mob, at the slandering neighbor woman who got turned into a neighing donkey. Okwiri Oduor, Harper's Magazine, 15 June 2022 No such juvenilia intrudes upon the rather more adult-ish proceedings of the new film The Wanting Mare, in which horses neigh and stamp at the margins of a bleak, majestic world. Jason Kehe, Wired, 12 Feb. 2021 Horse trailers lined up in rows in Island Grove Regional Park, their passengers neighing indiscriminately. John Aguilar, The Denver Post, 28 July 2019 Goats and sheep staying in the barn bleated, and horses neighed as the crowd of people grew. David Anderson, baltimoresun.com, 23 July 2019 There in the the headquarters of Togo’s secret police — the notorious Research and Intelligence Service — the captives were beaten, waterboarded and forced to kneel and neigh like horses. Siobhan O'Grady, latimes.com, 4 June 2018 Across the barn, another horse was getting new shoes and neighed. Jason Nark, Philly.com, 23 Mar. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for neigh
Verb
  • The downy woodpecker also whinnies like a miniature horse throughout the breeding season.
    Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2025
  • That doesn’t include food for the horses, who start whinnying.
    Keith Phipps, Vulture, 22 Mar. 2024
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
  • The roars crescendoed in the bottom of the first as Tatis led off with a single, Tatis and Machado each stole a base and Merrill, after falling behind 0-2 against Sale, one-handed a two-run single into center field.
    Dennis Lin, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
  • The nervous dread subsided, for once, and the roars returned as the Sox triumphed.
    Andrew Carter, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Some have experienced smoke damage and may have looked dead in their bare winter appearance, but a scratch beneath the bark’s surface shows that many of the trees will regrow.
    Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Sapsuckers peck a lacy pattern into the bark of certain trees, either consuming the sap that oozes out directly and/or eating the insects drawn to it.
    Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 13 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • One-take monologues are sliced in half, plot twists pause mid-gasp, and a car chase sequence screeches to a halt.
    Viren Naidu, IndieWire, 24 Mar. 2025
  • While not functional, the shiny cars served as props for young kids to vape, scroll on their phones, and screech on top of.
    Tiana Randall, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Listen for a squeal and know that your prank was a success! 20.
    Kimberly Stoney, Parents, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Her squeals and giggles echoed across the playground while other kids played soccer or spun on a tire swing.
    Emily Schwing, ProPublica, 4 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Juliana is one of those people who express positive emotions with a high-pitched squeak.
    Ali Barthwell, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2025
  • And if that’s not strange enough, this tiny creature barks, squeaks and even screams when threatened.
    Scott Travers, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Broody hens also cluck in a low tone, growl at other chickens when approached, and may keep their wings outstretched and their feathers puffed up.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Male turkeys gobble and strut, puffing out their feathers, to impress hens, who yelp and cluck in response.
    Steve Waters, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Neigh.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/neigh. Accessed 6 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on neigh

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!