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whinge

verb
\ ˈhwinj How to pronounce whinge (audio) , ˈwinj\
whinged; whinging or whingeing

Definition of whinge

intransitive verb

British
: to complain fretfully : whine
Other Words from whinge Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about whinge

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Other Words from whinge

whinge noun, British

Did You Know?

Whinge isn't just a spelling variant of "whine." "Whinge" and "whine" are actually entirely different words with separate histories. "Whine" traces to an Old English verb, "hwinan," which means "to make a humming or whirring sound." When "hwinan" became "whinen" in Middle English, it meant "to wail distressfully"; "whine" didn't acquire its "complain" sense until the 16th century. "Whinge," on the other hand, comes from a different Old English verb, "hwinsian," which means "to wail or moan discontentedly." "Whinge" retains that original sense today, though nowadays it puts less emphasis on the sound of the complaining and more on the discontentment behind the complaint.

Examples of whinge in a Sentence

Quit whinging and get on with the job. People were whinging about the lack of service.

Recent Examples on the Web

 Toddlers scream, children whinge and teenagers complain. — Emma Baty, Redbook, "This Woman's Viral Post About Being a "Bad Mom" Is So Relatable," 23 May 2017 Toddlers scream, children whinge and teenagers complain. — Emma Baty, Redbook, "This Woman's Viral Post About Being a "Bad Mom" Is So Relatable," 23 May 2017 Toddlers scream, children whinge and teenagers complain. — Emma Baty, Redbook, "This Woman's Viral Post About Being a "Bad Mom" Is So Relatable," 23 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'whinge.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of whinge

12th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for whinge

Middle English *whingen, from Old English hwinsian; akin to Old High German winsōn to moan

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More Definitions for whinge

whinge

verb
How to pronounce whinge (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of whinge

British, informal : to complain in an annoying way

See the full definition for whinge in the English Language Learners Dictionary

More from Merriam-Webster on whinge

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with whinge

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for whinge

Britannica English: Translation of whinge for Arabic Speakers

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