1
as in cry
a crying out in grief
a prolonged wail arose from every corner of the city as the victims of the earthquake were unearthed from the rubble
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2
as in groan
a long low sound indicating pain or grief
rescuers heard a faint wail coming from the pile of rubble, a sure sign that one of the victims was still alive
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in whine
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment
a transit fare increase that is sure to bring wails from the straphangers
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1
as in to complain
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
the state's residents are always wailing about their high taxes
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2
3
as in to groan
to utter a moan
the patient lay in her bed, occasionally softly wailing in pain
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of wail
Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 3 Feb. 2025
Mark and Helly, drawn to the wails of what sounds like an infant, open a door inside the Lumon complex and discover an all-white room with baby goats frolicking on bales of hay and one being bottle-fed by a man in a suit.
—Jen Chaney, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2025
Elizabeth Keogh, New York Daily News, 12 Mar. 2025
To the side, women wailed, beating their chests or throwing fistfuls of rice and rose petals.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wail
Noun
Sunday, June 8, 2025 Lake Como, Italy THE PARTY AT THE VILLA
A single chilling wail erupts from the grand ballroom on Palazzo Mella’s ground floor, cutting through the whir of the choppers above.
—Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 3 Feb. 2025
Mark and Helly, drawn to the wails of what sounds like an infant, open a door inside the Lumon complex and discover an all-white room with baby goats frolicking on bales of hay and one being bottle-fed by a man in a suit.
—Jen Chaney, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2025
Verb
At the scene Tuesday afternoon, a woman who identified herself as the victim’s girlfriend wailed as detectives investigated the grisly bloodshed.
—Elizabeth Keogh, New York Daily News, 12 Mar. 2025
To the side, women wailed, beating their chests or throwing fistfuls of rice and rose petals.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wail
Noun
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Raising the ceiling is often preceded by lots of drama—social security benefits and payments for Medicare and Medicaid will be in danger, are routine cries—as a deadline approaches.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
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The message was as a rallying cry by one of China’s most prominent tech leaders to a company going through one of the most tumultuous times in its history.—
Arjun Kharpal,
CNBC,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The motor produces a whine that is noticeable but not distracting.—
William Roberson,
Forbes,
17 Mar. 2025
-
Israel Hernandez heard the faint whine of sirens outside his Wilmington apartment and looked up just in time to see a minivan crash into another vehicle as police gave chase.—
Libor Jany,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Nobody is complaining about the bang for the buck regarding Betts or the Dodgers.—
Terence Moore,
Forbes.com,
29 Mar. 2025
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The crowds have since grown, but with more teams at fewer sites, some teams have complained about logistics like sharing court space, finding enough hotels and the travel schedule.—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The other side: Democrats are howling at the GOP's full embrace of using a current policy score to lower the cost of extending Trump's 2017 tax cuts.—
Hans Nichols,
Axios,
2 Apr. 2025
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Bing then started barking and howling as Watts smiled, before a series of clips played of Bing sending off other stars on the film.—
Kirsty Hatcher,
People.com,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Both fell to the floor — Delaney groaning in ecstasy, Williams screaming in agony.—
Rachel Handler,
Vulture,
24 Mar. 2025
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My assumption is that most rational human beings would happily stay in a warm and cozy office and simply listen to the building creak and groan under the force of the violent gusts.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside Online,
11 Mar. 2025
Noun
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None of these moans are intended to dismiss the importance of clever in-jokes and references to past adventures.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
17 Feb. 2025
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Tonally registering as if carved from a medium-hard piece of oak, his transparent deliveries — mellow whispers, conversational assertions, longing moans, resolute cries — served as effective vessels for those character sketches and autobiographical reflections.—
Bob Gendron,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Silverman joined the parade with a lament about the changing times.—
Paul Harris,
Variety,
24 Mar. 2025
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But where Knight of Cups often drifts along in a generalized fog of melancholy, Blanchett actually makes the film’s lament for shattered relationships and thwarted potential actually hurt.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
15 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Yet no other sweet treat screams Easter like PEEPS® candy does.—
Lanee Lee,
Forbes.com,
30 Mar. 2025
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These tantrums may involve kicking, screaming, and stomping.—
Wendy Wisner,
Health,
30 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wail. Accessed 11 Apr. 2025.
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