verb

pule

PYOOL/pjul/

To whine or complain weakly.

The tired toddler pules weakly beside the dropped ice-cream cone.

A tired toddler sits on the floor beside a dropped ice-cream cone, shoulders drooping, eyes wet with a few tears, and lower lip trembling in a small, weak whimper rather than a wide-mouthed howl.

Etymology

French piauler meant “to cheep or chirp” and imitated that sound. In English, the thin birdlike sound became a weak, complaining cry, especially a child’s.

More examples

Stop puling and tell me what you need.
She puled that no one had saved her a seat.
They pule over every minor change to the schedule.

Forms

pule · pules · puled · puling

Similar words

whine: Emphasizes an irritating, drawn-out complaint rather than its weakness.
complain: Covers any expression of dissatisfaction, whether weak or forceful.