whining
High-pitched fussing sound
Whining is complaining in a high-pitched, drawn-out, irritating tone—the sound children make when they don't get what they want.
Adults whine too, though the word carries childish connotations: Stop whining and do your job.
The adjective whiny describes someone prone to it.
Dogs whine with a similar sound, usually signaling distress or desire.
Formal claim of unfairness
- grumbleLow, discontented murmuring
- moanLow vocal complaint
- lamentMournful expression of grief
- grouseFowl or fuss
bellyaching · kvetching · fussing · griping · carping · discontent · objection · protest
Anxiously irritable
- querulousInclined to complain
- peevishHabitually fretful
- sulkyMoody and silently resentful
- poutySullen in expression
cranky · whimpering · sniveling · bratty · childish · tantrum · moping · huffy
High in frequency
- shrillHigh-pitched and harsh
- keeningVocal mourning for dead
- droningSustained monotonous sound
- wailingProlonged mournful crying
mewling · squealing · yelping · plaintive · thin · reedy · grating · piercing
Persistent bothering or complaining
- badgeringPersistent harassment or nagging
- needlingPersistent mild taunting
- hectoringAggressive verbal intimidation
- houndingPersistently pursuing or pressuring
haranguing · importuning · pressuring · pleading · begging · cajoling · wheedling · prodding
grievance
Formal claim of unfairness
grouse · bellyaching · kvetching · fussing · griping · carping · discontent · objection · protest · faultfinding
fretful
Anxiously irritable
pouty · cranky · whimpering · sniveling · bratty · childish · tantrum · moping · huffy · moody
high-pitched
High in frequency
wailing · mewling · squealing · yelping · plaintive · thin · reedy · grating · piercing · nasally
nagging
Persistent bothering or complaining
- badgeringPersistent harassment or nagging
- needlingPersistent mild taunting
- hectoringAggressive verbal intimidation
hounding · haranguing · importuning · pressuring · pleading · begging · cajoling · wheedling · prodding · nudging
- acting outtantrums, tantrum, meltdowns, pouting, sulking
- animal signalsbody language, bird songs, tail wagging, mating calls, whale song
- annoying behaviorsnagging, pestering, bothering, irritating, aggravating
- bad behaviorslying, cheating, stealing, rudeness, gossiping
- bratty behaviortantrum, pouting, sulking, backtalk, sass
- childhood behaviorsgiggling, skipping, tantrums, pouting, fidgeting
whiningpraising
Voicing admiration
celebrating · rejoicing · contented · happy · complacent
whiningstoicism
Uncomplaining acceptance of difficulty
uncomplaining · enduring · persevering · bearing up · soldiering on