whin·ing
ˈ(h)wī-niŋ
1
: producing or emitting a prolonged, high-pitched sound : producing a whine
a whining howl
… a coil of steel spins through a whining mass of machinery the size of a small two-story house.—Edward D. Welles
The fresh wind across the big lake blew away the smoke of cooking fires and vanquished the mosquitoes that came out in whining droves …—Louise Erdrich
2
: complaining or inclined to complain in a childish or petulant manner
They [scientists] think that … joyful people outlive their bilious, whining counterparts.—Natalie Angier
Brooks plays a whining, middle-aged screenwriter …—Leah Rozen
1
: the act or an instance of producing a prolonged, high-pitched sound (such as a cry of distress or pain)
the whining of a dog
… that night she heard a whining and scratching at her door, and when she opened it the lame puppy, drenched and shivering, jumped up on her with little sobbing barks.—Edith Wharton
2
: the act or activity of complaining in an annoyingly childish or petulant manner
Mom hates whining.—Ruth Kelley
… but his public whining ("I'm sick and tired of it") didn't do him much good …—Elizabeth Drew
But "people have begun to come out of that—they're tired of the whining," [J. Walker] Smith says.—Leslie Miller
Cite this Entry
“Whining.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whining. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share