as in weeping
expressing or suggesting mourning
a wailing quality in her voice that makes her a natural for country music
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in screaming
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
the state's residents are always wailing about their high taxes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in howling
to make a long loud mournful sound
the women stood beside the coffins, wailing for their fallen sons and daughters
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in moaning
to utter a moan
the patient lay in her bed, occasionally softly wailing in pain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wailing
Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 18 Sep. 2025
Karaoke on Ambience mainly consists of elderly monk-like men croaking out album tracks by Black Sabbath, and grey haired women wailing out ABBA songs.
—David Greig
september 15, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2025
The group sang Christian religious hymns accompanied by a wailing violin, cello and an acoustic guitar.
—Laura Gersony, AZCentral.com, 10 Sep. 2025
And throughout a 100-minute show, Cain recounted the story of a preacher’s daughter through wailing vocals, haunting drones, and meditative, languorous chants.
—Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 3 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
From Callahan’s baritone vocals to the wailing electric guitar and spritely fiddle, everything is loud and clear.
—Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 25 Aug. 2025
And then there may be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
—Peter J Reilly, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025
After defeating Bliss in a championship match, Charlotte Flair brutally and methodically ripped the Lilly doll to shreds in the middle of the ring, leaving a distraught Bliss wailing over the remains.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
Verb
Rather than atop fire station roofs, sirens would be placed along areas prone to flash flooding that have both tone and voice capacity, Brissie said, allowing officials to broadcast a wailing alarm or spoken instructions.
—Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 18 Sep. 2025
Karaoke on Ambience mainly consists of elderly monk-like men croaking out album tracks by Black Sabbath, and grey haired women wailing out ABBA songs.
—David Greig
september 15, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2025
The group sang Christian religious hymns accompanied by a wailing violin, cello and an acoustic guitar.
—Laura Gersony, AZCentral.com, 10 Sep. 2025
And throughout a 100-minute show, Cain recounted the story of a preacher’s daughter through wailing vocals, haunting drones, and meditative, languorous chants.
—Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean, 3 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
From Callahan’s baritone vocals to the wailing electric guitar and spritely fiddle, everything is loud and clear.
—Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 25 Aug. 2025
And then there may be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
—Peter J Reilly, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025
After defeating Bliss in a championship match, Charlotte Flair brutally and methodically ripped the Lilly doll to shreds in the middle of the ring, leaving a distraught Bliss wailing over the remains.
—Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wailing
Adjective
-
And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.—
David Mamet,
National Review,
11 Aug. 2022
-
The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.—
Helen Shaw,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2021
Verb
-
The podcasting duo immediately lost it and began screaming in delight.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
24 Sep. 2025
-
And Coraline was crying and shaking her head, her mind screaming, JOY, JOY, JOY, and Else’s eyes were rolled back into her head, deep in her dark pink fantasy world of keys and locks.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Once Upon a Brick — Wolf Guy gets himself into a hairy situation in this howling comedy.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Farms with multiple species also provide habitat for colorful and charismatic wildlife such as the endangered Yellow-eared Parrot and mantled howling monkey.—
Marianne Krasny,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The deputies ultimately roll him over before putting on handcuffs as Mull can be heard moaning in pain.—
Nathaniel Percy,
Oc Register,
26 Sep. 2025
-
The recognizable munchies didn't stop the cast members from moaning, groaning and throwing up as usual.—
Breanne L. Heldman,
PEOPLE,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The atmosphere at Charlie Kirk's memorial in Glendale, Arizona, is anything but mournful.—
Amanda Castro
Mandy Taheri
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
-
So mournful the distant owl in Black Brooks.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In April, 44-year-old Marie Ange Blaise, a Haitian, died while being held at GEO’s Pompano Beach facility after complaining of chest pains.—
Shirsho Dasgupta,
Miami Herald,
26 Sep. 2025
-
My question is how to get the most out of this reunion without sitting around rehashing old issues/resentments and complaining about our parents, especially our mother.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Mercury News,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The recognizable munchies didn't stop the cast members from moaning, groaning and throwing up as usual.—
Breanne L. Heldman,
PEOPLE,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Now, thrift stores and clothing markets from Bulgaria to the Czech Republic are groaning with castoffs.—
The Editors,
Robb Report,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Copeland’s mother, Maria Copeland, posted about her daughter’s funeral arrangements on Facebook.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
25 Sep. 2025
-
The boy was identified as Jeremiah Gonzalez on the page, which his family started to help with funeral costs.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wailing. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
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