bleating

verb

present participle of bleat
1
as in complaining
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely as far as the slumlord was concerned, the unhappy tenants were just bleating about nothing

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in whimpering
to utter feeble plaintive cries the baby bleated softly as he woke up, then smiled

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bleating However, the animals did survive and seemed set on helping their family survive too, repeatedly bleating and stomping on the debris covering the bunker. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 21 May 2026 Players started bleating, serenading James with sounds deserving of the GOAT — greatest of all time. — Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2026 Justin Fletcher returns as the bleating voice of Shaun and the flock, joined by John Sparkes, and Kate Harbour as voice talent in the dialog-free feature. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026 When Sneaky Snook in his mail truck happened upon the wreckage near the boundary of Meredith Downs, sheep were scattered along the roadside and the fence, bleating, dazed. — Literary Hub, 5 Mar. 2026 Here came Corgan, bleating a ballad that was genuinely moving, and people wanted to hear it. — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2026 The man sitting in front of me—rugged, with a fine Rockwell Kent profile—tips forward and begins to emit gentle, bleating snores. — James Parker, The Atlantic, 27 Jan. 2026 And when her furry black-and-white friend follows her — bleating at her heels, eager for more affection — Kusimayu keeps walking. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Dec. 2025 But working with Stockholm Drain Gang veteran Bladee on the remix turns the song into a hyper-pop boss fight, with frenetic and bleating synths piling on the duo’s vocals. — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bleating
  1. complaining
  2. whimpering
  3. screaming
  4. crying
  5. whining
  6. moaning
  7. muttering
Verb
  • The sport is now on TV every night of the week these days—and unlike some traditionalists, football-loving families aren’t complaining.
    — Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Even before the eighth inning on Sunday, Flemming spent a great deal of time complaining on the WEEI broadcast.
    — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of complaining
Verb
  • That admission led to gasps and whimpering by several courtroom observers.
    — Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 11 June 2026
  • As the timer passed seven minutes, Steve Eckert exhorted a whimpering young man to dunk his head underwater.
    — Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Definition of whimpering
Verb
  • That screaming maximum seems like something from a motor world made increasingly distant by turbochargers, hybrid systems and electric motors.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Imagine for a minute a Trojans defense with Luke Wafle, the nation’s top prospect in 2026, screaming off the edge a la the Bosa Bros at Ohio State.
    — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of screaming
Verb
  • In the distance, a toddler in a matching Nike outfit literally leaped into the arms of a crying woman, perhaps a grandmother, squeezing tightly for a hug.
    — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Unintentional noise could be heard, even a baby crying, Dolly said.
    — Martha Ackmann, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of crying
Verb
  • The state compared Atrium to a soccer team whining about the referees.
    — Bob Herman, STAT, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The epic whining heard across MLB over the Tarik Skubal acquisition is evidence Andrew Friedman and Dodgers management are a masterclass in demonstrating creative leadership to cultivate a winning ballclub.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of whining
Verb
  • Hall wrote in his report that Hamilton lay down in the backseat of the police vehicle, moaning and not responding, prompting first responders to give him Narcan.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Video released by the Milwaukie Police Department shows Descamps sprawled in a hospital bed, his body limp, moaning and drooling, while medical staff stood nearby.
    — Brian Mann, NPR, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of moaning
Verb
  • When John finally reunites with Hal (who charges the ring against the lantern while quickly muttering his oath), the frustrated protégé immediately confronts his teacher with all the suspicions he was meant to keep secret.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Now, for the second straight summer, 49ers training camp goes on without him on the sideline — strolling, watching, eavesdropping, muttering.
    — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of muttering

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bleaters
bleating
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Cite this Entry

“Bleating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bleating. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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