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

Eliot might have predicted, not with a bang but a whimper.

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 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

Until recently, it looked as if Sasaki’s first season with the Dodgers was going to end with a whimper.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 5, 2025

However, a hollow feeling was left after both finals, given how much of a whimper the Scots went out with on each occasion.

From BBC • Jun. 7, 2025

Duane stopped momentarily and let out a brief whimper.

From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el

Related Words

• moan
• weep