whimper

[ hwim-per, wim- ]

/ ˈʰwɪm pər, ˈwɪm- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR whimper ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object)

to cry with low, plaintive, broken sounds.

verb (used with object)

to utter in a whimper.

noun

a whimpering cry or sound.

Nearby words

Origin of whimper

1505–15; obsolete whimp to whine + -er⁶

SYNONYMS FOR whimper

1. whine, weep, sob. 3. whine, sob.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR whimper ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formswhim·per·er, nounwhim·per·ing·ly, adverbun·whim·per·ing, adjectiveun·whim·per·ing·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for whimper

Did the French monarchy end not with a bang—or a whimper—but a smile?
The French Court’s Royal Ban on Smiles|William O’Connor|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Democratic capitalism had won the Cold War not with a bang, but a whimper.
The Man Who Knew Russia Best: George Kennan’s Revealing Diaries|James A. Warren|March 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In Kyushu, where the yakuza are deeply rooted, they are not leaving with a whimper, they are leaving with a bang.
Where Have Japan’s Yakuza Gone?|Jake Adelstein, Nathalie-Kyoko Stucky|March 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Without a bang or a whimper, the Grand Bargain died this week.
RIP: Obama’s Grand Bargain With the GOP on Entitlements|John Avlon|March 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST

This is the way the World Economic Forum ends every year, not with a bang, but a whimper.
Income Inequality Was Quickly Forgotten at Davos|Christopher Dickey|January 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Christie moved slowly away toward her own house, but before she could reach the door she began to whimper—little fool.
Christie Johnstone|Charles Reade
Rome may crawl and whimper at your feet—I, Cornelia, scorn you!
Quintus Claudius, Volume 2 of 2|Ernst Eckstein
A bull terrier dying of gastritis recognized him and began to whimper feebly.
McTeague|Frank Norris
But she gave up, and did nothing but whimper, and it maddened me.
Catholic World, Vol. XIII, April to September, 1871|Various
Ejaculations of alarm were heard all round, and several of the girls began to whimper.
Facing Death|G. A. Henty

British Dictionary definitions for whimper

whimper

/ (ˈwɪmpə) /

verb

(intr) to cry, sob, or whine softly or intermittently

to complain or say (something) in a whining plaintive way

noun

a soft plaintive whine

Derived Formswhimperer, nounwhimpering, nounwhimperingly, adverb

Word Origin for whimper

C16: from dialect whimp, of imitative origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for whimper

whimper

1510s, probably of imitative origin, or from German wimmern "to whimper, moan." The noun is first recorded c.1700. Related: Whimpered; whimpering.

whimper

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of whimper

Examples from the Web for whimper

whimper

verb

noun

Word Origin for whimper

whimper