Skip to main content
puling

puling

1 9.9
A person who complains in a weak, cowardly way
  • noun
  • /ˈpjuːlɪŋ/
  • Offensive
translation icon : quejica
  • He is such a puling person, always complaining about the smallest inconveniences.
  • puling coward

Examples

  • Her puling nature made it difficult for others to take her seriously during discussions.

  • You stop your chicken whining or I will cut your puling tongue out.

  • How could I be a cultural ambassador shouldering this ridiculous load of puling, mewing, conceited infatuation?

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Yet, though this task of scouring the villages was not rightly Karo's, only taken on because their lord was a puling coward, the Lord of Raeth would not do the sorry work skulking.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • The group grew weary of his puling attitude towards every challenge they faced.

Synonyms

weakling
vspuling
  • Offensive
24 4.4

A person who has little body strength and gets tired easily

also describes someone seen as fearful and whining, not only physical weakness
whiner
vspuling
  • Offensive
23 4.3

A person who complains a lot about small things in an annoying way

is also weak or cowardly rather than only someone who complains
grouch
vspuling
14 5.2

A person who is often bad-tempered and complains

is more about weakness and whining rather than simple bad temper
moaner
vspuling
  • Offensive
1 5.5

A person who complains a lot about small things

is also weak or cowardly rather than only someone who complains
grumbler
vspuling
1 5.3

A person who often complains about small things

is also weak or cowardly rather than only someone who complains
sniveller
vspuling
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who often whines and complains in an annoying way

is also weak or cowardly rather than only someone who complains
whinger
vspuling
  • Offensive
1 8.4

A person who complains a lot about small things

is also weak or cowardly rather than only someone who complains
grouser
vspuling
  • Informal
1 9.1

A person who often complains in an annoying way

is also weak or cowardly rather than only someone who complains
bellyacher
vspuling
  • Informal
8.4

A person who complains a lot, often about small things

is also weak or cowardly rather than only someone who complains
whining Willy
vspuling
  • Offensive
9.4

A person who always complains in an annoying way

is also weak or cowardly rather than only someone who complains
complain king
vspuling
  • Informal
8.8

A person who often says they are unhappy and finds fault with many small things

is also weak or cowardly rather than only someone who complains
nagger
vspuling
  • Offensive
7.5

A person who keeps complaining or criticizing in an annoying way

focuses more on weakness and whining than on repeated criticism

How Brave

hero
1.1
coward
  • Offensive
584 2.3
puling
  • Offensive
1 9.9
weakling
  • Offensive
24 4.4

Surface Forms

puling singular
pulings plural

Morphology

puling = pule (transparent) = pule + ing

Nominalization from the verb 'pule' via '-ing' (a gerund or deverbal noun) yields 'puling' meaning the act or person characterized by whining; the relation is regular.

Etymology

Puling comes from the old verb pule, meaning 'to cry' or 'whine'. So a puling is someone who keeps whining or acts weak, and the word is used as a sharp name for a coward or constant complainer.