whining

[wahy-ning, hwahy-]

adjective

1. 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.

2. complaining in a petulant, self-pitying way.

   Those whining people who blame everyone and think everyone is against them need to grow up.

3. 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.

noun

1. 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?

2. the act of making a drawn-out, high-pitched sound.

   A few hours later the whining of a chainsaw began.

Other Word Forms

• whiningly adverb
• unwhining adjective
• unwhiningly adverb

Word History and Origins

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

Example Sentences

He immediately came under fire within Israel, with opposition leader Yair Lapid writing: "Today saw a weary and whining Israeli prime minister, in a speech overloaded with overused gimmicks"

From BBC

Isn’t this a “First World problem,” a form of privileged whining or a self-indulgent bid for tea and sympathy?

From Salon

But their over-the-top whining belies their true understanding.

From Salon

When I’m gone, they tuck her in, and at 2 a.m., when she pops up like a jack-in-the-box, giggling and whining, they sit with her until she exhausts herself and falls back to sleep.

From Salon

He remembers the clanging of metal and the high-pitched whining of steam, as well as the fear of gas leaks.

From BBC

Related Words

• cranky 
• fractious 
• impatient 
• irritable 
• perverse 
• sullen 
• testy 
• whiny