whiny
adj.adj. behaving in a way that is annoying because you want something or are complaining. You use this to describe someone who sounds like a child when they are upset.
adj. characterised by a high-pitched, complaining tone or a petulant, demanding attitude. Often used to describe vocal qualities or emotional states that are perceived as irritating.
He gave a whiny voice when he asked for more candy.
The manager was tired of the whiny complaints from the staff about the new office layout.
The protagonist's whiny tone in the early chapters eventually wears thin on the reader, though it serves to establish his initial vulnerability.
From whine + -y.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Last updated May 19, 2026