Definitions

whiny

[hwahy-nee, wahy-] / ˈʰwaɪ ni, ˈwaɪ- /

ADJECTIVE

disagreeable

Synonyms

STRONGEST

obnoxious rude unpleasant

WEAK

bellicose brusque cantankerous churlish contentious contrary cross difficult disobliging disputatious eristic grouchy ill-natured nasty offensive out of sorts peevish pettish petulant querulous snappy surly ugly unfriendly ungracious unlikable uptight waspish

Antonyms

STRONGEST

agreeable delightful kind nice pleasant

WEAK

friendly happy inoffensive pleasing

ADJECTIVE

petulant

Synonyms

STRONGEST

cranky fractious impatient irritable perverse sullen testy

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 whining

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 whining

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.

I don’t say this because it will seem whiny, although it probably will.

From MarketWatch • May 20, 2026

And Ms. Millonzi wisely avoids turning Roderigo into an overly whiny and dim dupe.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 3, 2026

Sure enough, his reasons are whiny and out-of-touch.

From Salon • Jan. 30, 2026

The stream of implementation emails is so whiny and ridiculous it should be funny.

From Slate • Feb. 3, 2025

I ask, knowing I sound like a whiny little kid.

From "The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl" by Stacy McAnulty