neigh 1 of 2

as in to whinny
to make the cry typical of a horse the horses neighed when the rider came into the barn

Synonyms & Similar Words

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neigh

2 of 2

noun

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 neigh
Verb
Across from them in their usual stalls stood the eight neighing horses. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2025 The band joked about adding a neighing horse to the intro, and Rimes quickly inserted that sound from his plug-in collection. Tom Roland, Billboard, 30 Jan. 2024 Laughing, always laughing—at the dickey birds hopping in the tree branches, at the urchin who was burned to a crisp by an angry mob, at the slandering neighbor woman who got turned into a neighing donkey. Okwiri Oduor, Harper's Magazine, 15 June 2022 No such juvenilia intrudes upon the rather more adult-ish proceedings of the new film The Wanting Mare, in which horses neigh and stamp at the margins of a bleak, majestic world. Jason Kehe, Wired, 12 Feb. 2021 Horse trailers lined up in rows in Island Grove Regional Park, their passengers neighing indiscriminately. John Aguilar, The Denver Post, 28 July 2019 Goats and sheep staying in the barn bleated, and horses neighed as the crowd of people grew. David Anderson, baltimoresun.com, 23 July 2019 There in the the headquarters of Togo’s secret police — the notorious Research and Intelligence Service — the captives were beaten, waterboarded and forced to kneel and neigh like horses. Siobhan O'Grady, latimes.com, 4 June 2018 Across the barn, another horse was getting new shoes and neighed. Jason Nark, Philly.com, 23 Mar. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for neigh
Verb
  • The downy woodpecker also whinnies like a miniature horse throughout the breeding season.
    Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2025
  • That doesn’t include food for the horses, who start whinnying.
    Keith Phipps, Vulture, 22 Mar. 2024
Verb
  • The soldiers muttered encouragement; their horses nickered.
    Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY, 6 Jan. 2025
  • The soldiers muttered encouragement; their horses nickered.
    Tom Vanden Brook, USA TODAY, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The tornado’s roar lasted only five seconds, but that was enough to demolish Bott’s service station, a family business and a Moundville, Missouri, landmark, leaving Bott in shock and with a feeling of uncertainty.
    Tammy Ljungblad, Kansas City Star, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Mid-set, Durst made a surprise entrance to sing alongside her, to the roar of the crowd.
    Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 2 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Spread it 2 to 3 inches deep and keep it an inch away from the bark of the stems.
    Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 12 Apr. 2025
  • Mix course sand and organic material such as pine bark or leaf mold into the backfill soil and slope the soil up to the edges of the rootball.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • One-take monologues are sliced in half, plot twists pause mid-gasp, and a car chase sequence screeches to a halt.
    Viren Naidu, IndieWire, 24 Mar. 2025
  • While not functional, the shiny cars served as props for young kids to vape, scroll on their phones, and screech on top of.
    Tiana Randall, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Frontman Bryan Garris let out a mighty pig squeal as guest vocalist Poppy thrashed and screamed across the stage, dressed like an even more macabre girl from The Ring.
    Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 12 Feb. 2025
  • Listen for a squeal and know that your prank was a success! 20.
    Kimberly Stoney, Parents, 19 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Juliana is one of those people who express positive emotions with a high-pitched squeak.
    Ali Barthwell, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2025
  • And if that’s not strange enough, this tiny creature barks, squeaks and even screams when threatened.
    Scott Travers, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • To my ears the cluck of his call was even more seductive than the real thing.
    Dave Duffey, Outdoor Life, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Broody hens also cluck in a low tone, growl at other chickens when approached, and may keep their wings outstretched and their feathers puffed up.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Neigh.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/neigh. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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