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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of wail
Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
Even in quiet moments—picture foggy mornings, candlelit pubs, the distant wail of bagpipes—Edinburgh feels alive with mystery.
—Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Miami Herald, 1 Sep. 2025
For the song’s second half, Alabama Shakes follow a thumping bridge into an extended psych-soul outro, Howard’s voice and the guitars wailing in the same anguished register.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wail
Noun
An ambulance siren wails past, coming up from the river.
—Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
Even in quiet moments—picture foggy mornings, candlelit pubs, the distant wail of bagpipes—Edinburgh feels alive with mystery.
—Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
As the siren wailed before kickoff on the rainy night the stadium scoreboards flashed HURRICANE WARNING.
—Miami Herald, 1 Sep. 2025
For the song’s second half, Alabama Shakes follow a thumping bridge into an extended psych-soul outro, Howard’s voice and the guitars wailing in the same anguished register.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wail
Noun
-
Since Kimmel’s remark, the backlash has shifted from conservative furor to cries of capitulation, coming from Capitol Hill Democrats, to former President Barack Obama, to former Disney CEO Michael Eisner.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
19 Sep. 2025
-
The cries of this widow will echo around the world like a battle cry.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The cheers that accompanied the sixth-inning rally quickly turned to groans in the top of the seventh when struggling Dodgers reliever Michael Kopech walked Jung Hoo-Lee and Bailey to open the inning before striking out Drew Gilbert.—
Mike Digiovanna,
Oc Register,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Feel that lovely dog weight, dog density, as your dog settles and downshifts, grows heavy with unconsciousness, and makes the profound noises, the groans of contentment and secret multi-voweled suspirations, of a dog entering its sleep world.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The unfiltered electric soundtrack of the Evija goes from a piercing whine to an ear-splitting shriek.—
Tim Pitt,
Robb Report,
6 Aug. 2025
-
Moscow’s escalating air war and the distinctive whine of Shaheds is now forcing Ukrainians out of their beds and into shelters and metro stations on an almost-nightly basis.—
Clare Sebastian,
CNN Money,
25 July 2025
Verb
-
Not that mom was complaining all that much about her daughter's efforts.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Sep. 2025
-
Allen even complained that he was being micromanaged about a week before the Tamarac murders.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The activist Left will howl that this is authoritarian.—
Ayaan Hirsi Ali,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Once Upon a Brick — Wolf Guy gets himself into a hairy situation in this howling comedy.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In one of the videos, she's seen rinsing her eye in a hospital sink, while moaning from the discomfort.—
Nick Romano,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Julia says, dropping to all fours and moaning amid a pile of straw on the floor.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
And Gutfeld didn’t shed any tears for his fellow TV host.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Sep. 2025
-
For some, tears stained their faces.—
David Clarey,
jsonline.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
But that joy recently turned into constant crying.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Aug. 2025
-
Which is ironic considering that the smallest stations have typically avoided engaging with exactly the kind of national politics that have got the GOP crying bias.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wail. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.
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