The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word SNIVELS
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
S
N
I
V
E
L
S
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Whines" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case whines = snivels.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does SNIVELS mean?
SNIVELS verb- To breathe heavily through the nose while it is congested with nasal mucus.
- To cry while sniffling; to whine or complain while crying.
- To say (something) while sniffling or crying.