whiny
Americanadjective
adjective
-
high-pitched and plaintive
-
peevish; complaining
Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
- whininess noun
Etymology
Origin of whiny
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Yes, Dawson was whiny and moody and extremely self-centered, but so are a lot of teenagers.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 11, 2026
The stream of implementation emails is so whiny and ridiculous it should be funny.
From Slate • Feb. 3, 2025
The main tone of the videos is whiny, as the hosts complain endlessly that career federal employees look down on them.
From Salon • Jan. 31, 2025
In another comment, the same critical commenter cited a documentary in which two daughters — “who sounded very whiny for grown adults “ — claimed they were abandoned.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 8, 2024
But I'm angry with Mouse Girl for tearing my shirt and being so whiny.
From "Born Behind Bars" by Padma Venkatraman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
