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
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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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of bawl
Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
Many were left bawling after seeing such a genuine interaction caught on camera, while others asked why the dogs sleep in a kennel outside.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for bawl
Verb
Eusexua offers a soundtrack for bedrooms and basements fit for balling and bawling sessions.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
Many were left bawling after seeing such a genuine interaction caught on camera, while others asked why the dogs sleep in a kennel outside.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for bawl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bawl
Verb
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Jamaica born About a hundred people gathered to lay Wilson to rest, singing, crying and laughing while remembering his kind heart, his hard work and his famous barbecue ribs and chicken wings.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
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Jonathan Kennedy, a tow truck operator, cried too.—
Emerson Clarridge
Updated March 27,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Frustration seemed to be boiling over when one woman attempted to duck a rope and was yelled at by several in line.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
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Officers learned that the driver of a Subaru, identified as 46-year-old Dominic Meucci of Wethersfield, was allegedly yelling at two people who were operating electric bikes in the parking lot, one of which was a juvenile, police said.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The shriek of mourning is not a metaphor but an ongoing condition the medium makes material.—
Anel Rakhimzhanova,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2026
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Back in the car, Albert moans and groans while Billie shrieks in panic.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Haugh buried his head in the hardwood and sobbed.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
23 Mar. 2026
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Liaw replied with a string of sobbing-face emojis, the indictment states, and then kept working with Chang and Sun, authorities say.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The march continues to weave throughout the Plaza on its way back to Mill Creek Park as people shout various chants, blare music, pound on handheld drums and blow whistles.—
Jenna Ebbers,
Kansas City Star,
28 Mar. 2026
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Malinin shouted and punched the air with relief after finishing the skate.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Village sounds of chickens and goats were pierced by the distant whine of commercial jets climbing out of Agadir’s international airport.—
Kevin West,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Mar. 2026
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No suspicious whine in the air, no burning of pungent oils to put off biters.—
Antonia Quirke,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But the cherry blossoms were weeping over the edge of the canals, so the whole thing was spectacular.—
Matt Bomer,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Mar. 2026
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My sister, who is a doctor and usually the stoic one, wept.—
Amanda Peet,
New Yorker,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The voice-over exchange on racial identity is played as obvious parody — the satire screaming its head off in case anyone should question the play’s point of view.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Mar. 2026
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One video shows black smoke streaming out of a building where a wall is painted blue with flowers and the sound of a woman can be heard screaming.—
Marin Scott,
NBC news,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bawl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bawl. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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