puling

[ pyoo-ling ]

adjective

1. whining; whimpering:

   a puling child.

Other Words From

• puling·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of puling¹

First recorded in 1520–30; pule + -ing ²

Example Sentences

There's been quite a bit of hair-puling over why Washington DC isn't hip.

From The Daily Beast

We are accustomed nowadays to a great deal of puling over the circumstances in which we are placed.

From Project Gutenberg

Away with this whimpering, this puling, these blubbering tears, and these wet eyes!

From Project Gutenberg

No puling cloister-maid this that dares not raise her eyes higher than her bridegroom's knee!

From Project Gutenberg

Poets are such a quarrelsome lot tooeffeminate, puling, unmanly humbugs!

From Project Gutenberg

He regarded Smithson kindly, whereat that rather puling gentleman once again assumed his martial bearing.

From Project Gutenberg