Definitions

whining

[wahy-ning, hwahy-] / ˈwaɪ nɪŋ, ˈʰwaɪ- /

ADJECTIVE

carping

Synonyms

STRONG

bellyaching caviling criticizing disparaging griping grousing grumbling kvetching moaning nagging niggling quibbling

WEAK

censorious critical deprecatory fault-finding grouchy hypercritical nit-picking overcritical scathing

Antonyms

WEAK

complimentary forgiving

ADJECTIVE

complaining

Synonyms

STRONGEST

grumbling protesting

STRONG

accusing bellyaching bewailing charging deploring disapproving discontented dissenting fretting lamenting moaning mourning murmuring regretting repining weeping

WEAK

critical malcontent peevish querulous resentful

Antonyms

WEAK

appreciating enjoying praising

ADJECTIVE

peevish

Synonyms

WEAK

acrimonious angry bad-tempered cantankerous captious carping caviling childish churlish complaining crabbed cranky critical cross crotchety crusty cussed fault-finding fractious fretful fretting grouchy grousing growling grumpy huffy ill-natured mean morose obstinate ogre ornery out-of-sorts pertinacious petulant querulous short-tempered snappy splenetic sulky sullen surly tetchy touchy ugly waspish waspy

Antonyms

WEAK

accepting friendly happy pleasant

ADJECTIVE

petulant

Synonyms

STRONGEST

cranky fractious impatient irritable perverse sullen testy whiny

WEAK

bad-tempered captious caviling complaining cross crybaby displeased fault-finding fretful grouchy grumbling huffy ill-humored mean peevish pouting querulous snappish sour sulky touchy ungracious uptight waspish

Antonyms

STRONGEST

agreeable cheerful happy nice patient willing

WEAK

good-natured pleasant

ADJECTIVE

querulous

Synonyms

WEAK

bearish bemoaning cantankerous captious carping censorious complaining critical cross crying deploring discontented dissatisfied edgy fault-finding fretful grousing grumbling grumbly huffy irritable lamenting out of sorts peevish petulant plaintive scrappy snappy sour testy thin-skinned touchy uptight wailing waspish waspy whimpering whiny

Antonyms

WEAK

cheerful easygoing happy

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

On the other end, the Rockets were a complete mess, dissolving in two whining technical fouls in the third quarter that sealed their fate.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 19, 2026

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick accused Carney of “an arrogant kind of thought,” and likened the prime minister’s speech to whining and complaining.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

That said, my siblings and I got tired of the whining and agreed that she would only have to pay the lesser of $3 million or the appraised price of the house.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 19, 2026

Isn’t this a “First World problem,” a form of privileged whining or a self-indulgent bid for tea and sympathy?

From Salon • Sep. 20, 2025

And that makes me smile because she totally is whining.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz

whining

Example Sentences

Related Words