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
  • Parents keep complaining to me that their kids are sedentary at school, even though humans need to keep moving throughout the day to be healthy.
    — Kara Alaimo, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Aside from social media posts complaining about the war’s fallout and some grumbling from oligarchs about the Kremlin seizing their assets, there are still no signs of any widespread popular unrest against Vladimir Putin’s regime.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 3 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
  • The ‘Ginger Prince’ also scored the goal which prompted the loudest atmosphere at Old Trafford so far this century, a 25-yard screaming half-volley against Barcelona in the 2008 Champions League semi-final second leg, the only goal across both legs.
    — Andy Mitten, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Dispatchers heard gunshots and screaming on the other end of the line.
    — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of screaming
Verb
  • As officers took the suspect into custody, a child could be heard crying in the background, according to the body camera footage.
    — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The 2-year-old can be heard crying in the footage as officers try to console her.
    — Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of crying
Verb
  • Too many managers hear the complaints and dismiss them as whining, or find a reason not to act.
    — Roger Dooley, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • In the short term, giving in to whining or a demand made during a tantrum can feel like the easier solution.
    — Melissa Willets, Parents, 19 July 2026
Definition of whining
Verb
  • Swinging his hips, moaning into the mic and briefly getting promiscuous with a mic stand was the authenticity that the majority-millennial crowd expected.
    — Sophie Lindberg July 11, Kansas City Star, 12 July 2026
  • Federal officers stand over a man with a bloody shirt who is handcuffed face down, moaning in pain as his left foot shakes.
    — Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
Definition of moaning
Verb
  • An edgy confrontation The Rangers were still seething as Keenan attempted to address the team following a demoralizing 3-1 loss, with a few snapping back or muttering under their breath.
    — Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 21 May 2026
  • On Tuesday, cameras caught Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing muttering something after looking back at the Giants’ Jung Hoo Lee, who was in discomfort after an awkward slide at home plate.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Definition of muttering

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Cite this Entry

“Bleating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bleating. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bleating

Nglish: Translation of bleating for Spanish Speakers

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