cry wolf

phrase

: to give alarm unnecessarily
News organizations have been warned not to cry wolf.

Examples of cry wolf in a Sentence

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.
Bart cries wolf the morning after dreaming about dying in a bus crash, but no one believes him. — Joshua Kurp, Vulture, 26 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1858, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cry wolf was in 1858

Rhymes for cry wolf

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Browse Nearby Words

cry up
cry wolf
cs
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Cite this Entry

“Cry wolf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cry%20wolf. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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