Synonyms of bawl

bawl 1 of 2

verb

ˈbȯl 

1

as in to cry

to shed tears often while making meaningless sounds as a sign of pain or distress

he bawled for days after his dog died

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cry
• sob
• weep
• scream
• grieve
• blub
• blubber
• whine
• mourn
• whimper
• greet
• lament
• howl
• groan
• squall
• wail
• moan
• sigh
• keen
• sniffle
• snivel
• bleat
• yowl
• mewl
• pule

2

as in to yell

to speak so as to be heard at a distance

the mover was bawling for help as the refrigerator was about to slip out of his hands

Synonyms & Similar Words

• yell
• shout
• cry
• scream
• call
• holler
• roar
• thunder
• bellow
• bay
• sound off
• hollo
• vociferate
• shriek
• whoop
• shrill
• wail
• screech
• squeal
• squeak
• howl
• crow
• hail
• yowl
• caterwaul
• ululate
• speak out
• speak up
• yawp

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• whisper
• breathe
• murmur
• mumble
• mutter

bawl

2 of 2

noun

as in shriek

Related Words

• shriek
• whine
• cry
• whimper
• yowl
• yelp
• howl
• crying
• squall
• lamentation
• weeping
• sobbing
• keen
• lament
• whimpering
• plaint
• whining
• blubbering
• groan
• wail
• sniveling
• moan
• yammering

Dissimilar Words

• laugh
• chuckle
• giggle
• guffaw
• snicker
• cackle
• titter
• twitter
• chortle
• snigger

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of bawl

Verb

The baby bawled, the women and girls tiptoed, and at last Lina and the Brown family reached the ground and ran across the street. — Danielle Parker, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026

Al-Hashimi ends up bawling in her car about Robby’s lack of empathy and perhaps the hypocrisy of it all. — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026

Noun

Instead, similar to other animals, newborn babies produce a heartbreaking (and ear-piercing) bawl. — Jeremy Engle, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2024

As the weekend’s big game approached, David Singleton could have staged his own super bawl. — Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2022

Phrases Containing bawl

• bawl out