whiny

Or whin·ey

[hwahy-nee, wahy-]

adjective

whinier, whiniest 

1. complaining; fretful; cranky.

   The baby is whiny because he missed his nap.

whiny

/ ˈwaɪnɪ /

adjective

1. high-pitched and plaintive

2. peevish; complaining

Other Word Forms

• whininess noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of whiny¹

First recorded in 1850–55; whine + -y ¹

Example Sentences

He is, however, at least slightly better dressed than a peasant screaming invectives in a whiny British accent.

From Salon

Now Trump's Cabinet members are picking up the claim that the problem isn't rising prices, but parents who need to be sterner with whiny little girls.

From Salon

And we are asked to see the "vulnerable" as a small number of whiny people on death’s door anyway.

From Salon

We can already see the first inklings of how the liberal refusal to submit is frustrating the right and making them even more whiny than usual.

From Salon

The main tone of the videos is whiny, as the hosts complain endlessly that career federal employees look down on them.

From Salon

Related Words

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

When To Use

What does whiny mean?

Whiny is an adjective describing someone who is complaining in an annoying way, especially in a high-pitched tone of voice.To whine is to moan or make a high-pitched cry, or to say something in such a way. It also means to complain, especially by talking in such a way. Whiny is always used negatively to criticize such behavior. It can be used to describe a person or their words or actions. It is also spelled whiney.Example: People might help you with your problems if you weren’t so whiny about them.