whimper
Soft, pitiful sound
A whimper is a soft, high-pitched cry expressing fear, pain, or distress—the sound a frightened dog makes, or a child trying not to cry.
To whimper is to make such sounds: The puppy whimpered at the door.
The word suggests vulnerability and restraint, crying that's held back rather than released.
T.S.
Eliot's famous line—"not with a bang but a whimper"—captures its sense of quiet, anticlimactic defeat.
Convulsive weeping
- weepShed tears emotionally
- sniffleNasal inhalation when congested
- snivelWeep while complaining
- cryVocal expression of emotion
moan · tearful · plaintive · lament · grieve · mourn · mewl · blubber
Low vocal complaint
- groanLow vocal expression of distress
- winceReflexive recoil from distress
- cryVocal expression of emotion
- sobConvulsive weeping
gasp · whine · yelp · wail · flinch · grimace · writhe · snivel
sob
Convulsive weeping
cry · moan · tearful · plaintive · lament · grieve · mourn · mewl · blubber · bawl
moan
Low vocal complaint
- groanLow vocal expression of distress
- winceReflexive recoil from distress
- cryVocal expression of emotion
sob · gasp · whine · yelp · wail · flinch · grimace · writhe · snivel · mewl
sob
Convulsive weeping
tremble · shudder · quiver · cringe · flinch · shrink · snivel · moan · fret · quaver
yelp
Brief, shrill cry
bark · howl · growl · bleat · pup · puppy · kitten · cub · whelp · nuzzle
murmur
Soft, indistinct continuous sound
soft · quiet · muffled · hushed · barely · audible · low · gentle · weak · trembling