as in kid
a young person who is between infancy and adulthood
playtime's over, it's time to gather up the whelps and head home
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Recent Examples of whelp
Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
The alpha male was a foster, and his mate whelped — or gave birth — during the same week, making the pack an ideal candidate to receive pups.
—Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 29 July 2024
Given its importance as one of two Northwest Atlantic harp seal whelping grounds, the area is one of Nat Geo’s Best Trips for 2020.
—Jennifer Hayes, National Geographic, 19 Dec. 2019
And from Susan’s line, the queen’s breeding program at the Kennels of Windsor whelped hundreds of corgi puppies.
—William Booth, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2018
From the queen's breeding program at the Kennels of Windsor, hundreds of royal corgis have been whelped.
—William Booth, chicagotribune.com, 18 Apr. 2018
Noun
Owners can help the process by giving them a whelping box.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
The alpha male was a foster, and his mate whelped — or gave birth — during the same week, making the pack an ideal candidate to receive pups.
—Hayleigh Evans, The Arizona Republic, 29 July 2024
Given its importance as one of two Northwest Atlantic harp seal whelping grounds, the area is one of Nat Geo’s Best Trips for 2020.
—Jennifer Hayes, National Geographic, 19 Dec. 2019
And from Susan’s line, the queen’s breeding program at the Kennels of Windsor whelped hundreds of corgi puppies.
—William Booth, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2018
From the queen's breeding program at the Kennels of Windsor, hundreds of royal corgis have been whelped.
—William Booth, chicagotribune.com, 18 Apr. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whelp
Noun
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Sign up now and be one of the cool kids.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
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One of my kids once presented a bar graph showing that Taco Tuesday produces 40% more dirty dishes than any other night.—
Dr. Sue Varma,
CNBC,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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No one who celebrates the loss of human life should be anywhere near children.—
Amy DeLaura,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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Hence children who develop strong foundational skills early are better equipped to use AI tools beneficially later.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The brother lions sired several cubs over their long reign at the zoo.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
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Iraq became proof that the model would work across the region, with Hezbollah serially midwifing the proxies that Iran sired.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In most attacks, bears are trying to defend their food, cubs or space.—
Mike Stunson,
Kansas City Star,
9 Sep. 2025
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Extra logs and stepping stones have been added to the habitat to protect the cubs and facilitate their movement in the big space.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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At first, this looks like just another mismatched cop thriller, with Denzel as the street-smart veteran teaching young pup Ethan Hawke a few tricks.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
15 Aug. 2025
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The Seal Society was instrumental in the city’s decision in 2014 to close the beach at La Jolla’s Children’s Pool to the public from Dec. 15 to May 15 annually to keep humans and harbor seals separated during the seals’ pupping season.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 July 2025
Verb
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Walker previously dated London on da Track, whom fathered her daughter and rapper LVRD Pharaoh, whom fathered her twin sons.—
Mya Abraham,
VIBE.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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Owens, the 35-year-old daughter of longtime San Francisco radio host Ronn Owens, filed a paternity petition in Maricopa County Superior Court in August 2023, alleging Echard fathered twins during a one-night encounter.—
Miguel Torres,
AZCentral.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
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After getting rescued at a young age, a tuxedo kitten immediately claimed his owner's cat as his own new mommy, and internet users can't cope with the heartwarming relationship the two have developed.—
Gordon G. Chang,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Apr. 2025
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Local authorities were able to coax the bobcat kitten out of the tree and bring it some comfort.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA TODAY,
25 July 2023
Verb
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The Indian Adoption Program which begat the Indian Child Welfare Act.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
20 Aug. 2025
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The discovery, age five, that some people did not live in communities with all goods in common—that in fact for most, home was a locked building full of private property—begat questions still begetting questions at age thirteen.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whelp.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whelp. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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