whimper

American  

[hwim-per, wim-] / ˈʰwɪm pər, ˈwɪm- /

verb (used without object)

1. to cry with low, plaintive, broken sounds.

   Synonyms:

   sob, weep, whine

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verb (used with object)

1. to utter in a whimper.

noun

1. a whimpering cry or sound.

   Synonyms:

   sob, whine

whimper British  

/ ˈwɪmpə /

verb

1. (intr) to cry, sob, or whine softly or intermittently

2. to complain or say (something) in a whining plaintive way

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noun

1. a soft plaintive whine

Other Word Forms

• unwhimpering adjective
• unwhimperingly adverb
• whimperer noun
• whimpering noun
• whimperingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of whimper

1505–15; obsolete whimp to whine + -er ⁶

Example Sentences

In Mr. Loznitsa’s vision, the waiting room is one place ideals go to die, or at least whimper.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

A head-spinning session ended with more of a whimper than a bang on Tuesday.

From Barron's • Mar. 10, 2026

Sri Lanka needed an emphatic win to stay alive but instead exited with a whimper, limping to 107-8 chasing New Zealand's 168-7.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

But time heals all boring Main Events and fans were not ready to see Cena go out with a whimper in his final match.

From Salon • Dec. 14, 2025

Tears were rolling down her face, her eyes were red orbs of anger, but she wasn’t making so much as a whimper, which was unusual for her.

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall

Related Words

• moan
• weep