View synonyms for whining

whining

[ wahy-ning, hwahy- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

uttering a nasal, complaining cry, as from peevishness, discontent, uneasiness, etc.:
If there’s one sound that makes me want to tear my ears off, it’s the sound of a whining tomcat.
Our daughter has grown from a whining child on the first day of playgroup to one who asks to go even on Saturdays.
complaining in a petulant, self-pitying way:
Those whining people who blame everyone and think everyone is against them need to grow up.
making or being a drawn-out, high-pitched sound:
In courtship, the male of the white-eyed vireo displays to the female by fluffing its plumage, spreading its tail, and uttering a whining call.

the act or habit of crying or complaining in a peevish way:
Can I give you a bit more work today if I have to, and not get any whining from you?
the act of making a drawn-out, high-pitched sound:
A few hours later the whining of a chainsaw began.

Origin of whining¹

First recorded in 1400–50; whin(e) ( def ) + -ing ²( def ) for the adjective senses; whin(e) ( def ) + -ing ¹( def ) for the noun senses

It was her standard response to our questions, which in retrospect probably came out more like whines, about what was about to land on our plates.

They usually find whining to be an unattractive quality best left to toddlers and MSNBC hosts.

Detractors might say this is a whole lot of feminist whining, of finding problems where there are none.

Or refusing to take on menial work, such as working in a café for example, and instead whining at your parents to pay your rent?

We are constantly bombarded by whining from the right over its contrived war on Christmas.

Katherine, Daniel, and Nathan are quite unlikable people, stuck with one another, whining to their friends and family.

When I hear (as I often do) some flabby boozer whining and ascribing his trouble to the drinkshop, I despise him.

Howsomever, I am not dead broke yet, and even if a man is dead broke inself, there is no reason why he should go whining about it.

It is the apt accompaniment of a whining tongue, the fit complement of a verjuice countenance.

Soon a whining commences, which grows louder and louder, and becomes disagreeable to every person present.

Even on the outside, however, they could hear her shrill, whining protest against any mention of Morley.

April 18, 2024petrichor

[pet-ri-kawr]

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