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Howl vs Whine - What's the difference?

howl | whine | Synonyms |

Whine is a coordinate term of howl.



As nouns the difference between howl and whine

is that howl is the protracted, mournful cry of a dog or a wolf, or other like sound while whine is a long-drawn, high-pitched complaining cry or sound.

As verbs the difference between howl and whine

is that howl is to utter a loud, protracted, mournful sound or cry, as dogs and wolves often do while whine is to utter a high-pitched cry.

howl

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • The protracted, mournful cry of a dog or a wolf, or other like sound.
  • A prolonged cry of distress or anguish; a wail.

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To utter a loud, protracted, mournful sound or cry, as dogs and wolves often do.
  • * Drayton
    • And dogs in corners set them down to howl .
  • * Shakespeare
    • Methought a legion of foul fiends / Environ'd me about, and howled in my ears.
  • To utter a sound expressive of pain or distress; to cry aloud and mournfully; to lament; to wail.
  • * Bible, Isaiah xiii. 6
    • Howl ye, for the day of the Lord is at hand.
  • To make a noise resembling the cry of a wild beast.
  • * Sir Walter Scott
    • Wild howled the wind.
  • To utter with outcry.
    • to howl derision

    whine

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • a long-drawn, high-pitched complaining cry or sound
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2012 , date=June 26 , author=Genevieve Koski , title=Music: Reviews: Justin Bieber: Believe , work=The Onion AV Club citation , page= , passage=The 18-year-old Bieber can’t quite pull off the “adult” thing just yet: His voice may have dropped a bit since the days of “Baby,” but it still mostly registers as “angelic,” and veers toward a pubescent whine at times. }}
  • a complaint or criticism

    • Verb

    (whin)
  • To utter a high-pitched cry.
  • To make a sound resembling such a cry.
    • The jet engines whined at take off.
  • To complain or protest with a whine or as if with a whine.
  • To move with a whining sound.
    • The jet whined into the air.
  • To utter with the sound of a whine.
    • The child whined all his complaints.
    Kelly Queen was whining that the boss made him put on his tie.

    Synonyms

    * See also