whining

[ wahy-ning, hwahy- ]

/ ˈwaɪ nɪŋ, ˈʰwaɪ- /

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See synonyms for whining on Thesaurus.com

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.

noun

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.

QUIZ

TAKE JOY IN ACING THIS QUIZ ON “PRIDE” SYNONYMS

Hold your head up high as you embark on this quiz that explores some of the synonyms and meanings of “pride.”

Question 1 of 7

What does "dignity" mean?

showing self-respect

treating others with kindness

acting selfishly

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of whining

whin(e) + -ing² for the adjective senses; whin(e) + -ing¹ for the noun senses

OTHER WORDS FROM whining

whin·ing·ly, adverbun·whin·ing, adjectiveun·whin·ing·ly, adverb

Words nearby whining

whinchat, whine, whiner, whing-ding, whinge, whining, whinny, whinstone, whiny, whio, whip

How to use whining in a sentence

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.
At the end of an isolating year, even the embarrassing, frustrating, weird parts of family gatherings feel missed|Theresa Vargas|December 26, 2020|Washington Post
They usually find whining to be an unattractive quality best left to toddlers and MSNBC hosts.
Chris McDaniel Confirms the Worst GOP Stereotypes|Stuart Stevens|July 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Detractors might say this is a whole lot of feminist whining, of finding problems where there are none.
We Should Celebrate Social Media's Slaying of Robin Thicke|Tauriq Moosa|July 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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?
Why ‘Girls’ Is Bad for Women|Emma Woolf|March 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST

We are constantly bombarded by whining from the right over its contrived war on Christmas.
The War on Thanksgiving|Dean Obeidallah|November 26, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Katherine, Daniel, and Nathan are quite unlikable people, stuck with one another, whining to their friends and family.
This Week’s Hot Reads: May 28, 2013|Jen Vafidis|May 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST
When I hear (as I often do) some flabby boozer whining and ascribing his trouble to the drinkshop, I despise him.
The Chequers|James Runciman
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.
The Whale and the Grasshopper|Seumas O'Brien
It is the apt accompaniment of a whining tongue, the fit complement of a verjuice countenance.
A Cursory History of Swearing|Julian Sharman
Soon a whining commences, which grows louder and louder, and becomes disagreeable to every person present.
Charles Duran|The Author of The Waldos
Even on the outside, however, they could hear her shrill, whining protest against any mention of Morley.
The Winning Clue|James Hay, Jr.