whimper

American  

[hwim-per, wim-] / ˈʰwɪm pər, ˈwɪm- /

verb (used without object)

1. to cry with low, plaintive, broken sounds.

   Synonyms:

   sob, weep, whine

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verb (used with object)

1. to utter in a whimper.

noun

1. a whimpering cry or sound.

   Synonyms:

   sob, whine

whimper British  

/ ˈwɪmpə /

verb

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

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

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noun

1. a soft plaintive whine

Other Word Forms

• unwhimpering adjective
• unwhimperingly adverb
• whimperer noun
• whimpering noun
• whimperingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of whimper

1505–15; obsolete whimp to whine + -er ⁶

Example Sentences

A deluge of chaotic sound rose from its depths: roaring, barking, yowling, whimpering.

From Literature

Eliot might have predicted, not with a bang but a whimper.

From Barron's

In Mr. Loznitsa’s vision, the waiting room is one place ideals go to die, or at least whimper.

From The Wall Street Journal

A whimper rose from behind Lloyd’s pillow, and maybe mine.

From Literature

It was thin and wet, and was complaining softly to itself in a low, continuous whimper.

From Literature

Related Words

• moan
• weep