blubber

1 of 2

verb

blub·​ber ˈblə-bər How to pronounce blubber (audio)
blubbered; blubbering ˈblə-b(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce blubber (audio)
Synonyms of blubbernext

intransitive verb

: to weep noisily

transitive verb

1
: to swell, distort, or wet with weeping
2
: to utter while weeping

blubber

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: the fat of whales and other large marine mammals
b
: excessive fat on the body
2
: the action of blubbering

Synonyms

Verb

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Examples of blubber in a Sentence

Verb Oh, stop blubbering, you big baby! the poor child was blubbering because he had fallen and skinned his knee
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Verb
Xan and Loren are similarly presented as a pair of saloon villains right out of an old-school western: the bully and his blubbering idiot sidekick. — Bartolomeo Sala, The Dial, 27 Mar. 2025 The novel ends with a virtuoso lampooning of the aunt’s funeral that cuts straight through the rural superstitions and drunken blubbering. — Sam Sacks, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025
Noun
The thick layer of blubber beneath their skin, combined with the close physical contact among individuals, creates a thermal barrier against the extreme cold of their natural habitat. — Scott Travers, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025 Six dead dolphins who washed up in Texas were found to have fentanyl in their blubber. — Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for blubber

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English blubren to make a bubbling sound, from bluber

Noun

Middle English bluber bubble, foam, probably of imitative origin

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of blubber was in the 15th century

Rhymes for blubber

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Browse Nearby Words

blub
blubber
blubberer
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Blubber.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blubber. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.

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Kids Definition

blubber

1 of 2 noun
blub·​ber ˈbləb-ər How to pronounce blubber (audio)
1
: the fat of whales and other large sea mammals
2
: the action of blubbering

blubber

2 of 2 verb
blubbered; blubbering
-(ə-)riŋ
1
: to weep noisily
2
: to talk and weep at the same time

More from Merriam-Webster on blubber

Nglish: Translation of blubber for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about blubber

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