whimper
4 synonyms for whimper, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To cry or make small, weak, broken sounds, usually from pain, fear, or distress.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. verb
To cry or make small, weak, broken sounds, usually from pain, fear, or distress.
“The puppy whimpered outside the door, wanting to be let in.”
2. noun
A soft, weak, broken sound of distress.
“A faint whimper came from the back seat as the car hit another bump.”
How to use whimper
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
whimper in pain
a soft whimper
go out with a whimper
Etymology
From an old dialect word whimp, meaning "to whine", with the frequentative ending -er added to suggest a repeated, ongoing sound.
Full origin of whimper →Frequently asked questions
What does “whimper” mean?
The word “whimper” means to cry or make small, weak, broken sounds, usually from pain, fear, or distress. In plain terms, a small, weak crying sound, or the act of making one.
How do you pronounce “whimper”?
“Whimper” is pronounced WIHM-puh (/ˈwɪmpə/ in IPA).
How do you use “whimper” in a sentence?
Here is “whimper” used in a sentence: “The puppy whimpered outside the door, wanting to be let in.”
What is another word for “whimper”?
Words with a similar meaning to “whimper” include mewl.
What part of speech is “whimper”?
Depending on how it is used, “whimper” can be a verb and a noun.
How many meanings does “whimper” have?
“Whimper” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to cry or make small, weak, broken sounds, usually from pain, fear, or distress.
