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

Ireland's domestic economy returned to growth in the first three months of the year with a strong expansion in the construction and agriculture sectors puling the country out of a shallow recession, data showed on Friday.

From Reuters

Ireland's domestic economy returned to growth in the first three months of the year with a strong expansion in the construction and agriculture sectors puling the country out of a shallow recession, data showed on Friday.

From Reuters

“Some sectors are puling back on hiring intentions because their broader economic outlook is starting to become less rosy or they have industry-specific concerns,” said Nick Bunker, head of research at Indeed’s Hiring Lab.

From Washington Post

Nathan at first paid scant attention to her: he had wanted a son to continue his line and walk beside him on the land, not a puling infant who would take with her a dowry and leave nothing but a memory behind; but soon she stopped being a puling infant, and when at the age of ten months she called him “Apa,” which means father, he began to take a lively interest in her.

From Literature

“Given the timeframes we’re looking at, it’s almost hard to see how we meet them. We really need to have everyone puling on the oars at the same time and in the same direction, and unfortunately, we’re not seeing that, to be honest.”

From Washington Times