Whiny is an adjective meaning habitually complaining or of or like a whine. Whiney is the same as whiny, but it appears about a fourth as often. Whinny is the sound horses make. It’s synonymous with neigh. Whinney is (1) a surname, (2) an unusual spelling of the female first name usually spelled Winnie, and (3) a component of a few place names (e.g., Whinney Hill, Whinney Banks).
Examples
Believe it or not, whiny is occasionally misspelled whinny—for example:
The focus needs to be on the games and not on whinny stars using their clout to bully the ATP. [Bleacher Report]
I Love his column and any whinny liberal detractors don’t hold a candle to his wit and wisdom. [letter to Santa Rosa’s Press Gazette]
And these are positive examples:
Rather than dismiss Gen Y as entitled or whiny about the economy, campus career service experts need to consider the effectiveness of our approach. [Washington Post]
By the end, Gingrich came off not as resolute but whiney and mean-spirited. [Guardian]
They knew I was coming and had brought him into his stall for me to see him. I called to him from the door as I entered the barn and he answered me with a whinny. [Orangeville Citizen]
