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
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Recent Examples of 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
Mike Combs, Outdoor Life, 18 June 2025
Realizing her suspicions are now confirmed, and her name is on the wheel a total of 13 times, Irina falls to her knees and bawls her eyes out.
—Joelle Goldstein, People.com, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bawl
Verb
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
Noun
Then the barking would change again to bawling — the bear was off again.
—Mike Combs, Outdoor Life, 18 June 2025
Realizing her suspicions are now confirmed, and her name is on the wheel a total of 13 times, Irina falls to her knees and bawls her eyes out.
—Joelle Goldstein, People.com, 22 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bawl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bawl
Verb
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In a clip shared exclusively with PEOPLE, Van Dyke recalled crying when the Sherman Brothers first played the now-iconic songs for him.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
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While naysayers may argue Dalio is the boy who cried wolf, his caution has paid off in the past.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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One Auburn fan leaned over the railing, waved his middle finger and yelled.—
Seth Emerson,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
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So, when peace activist Abbie Hoffman crashed the stage and started yelling into guitarist Pete Townshend's microphone, Townshend was having none of it.—
Diane J. Cho,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
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But that doesn’t give a sense of how absorbingly otherworldly the film is, with its wordless beginnings and its shriek of a score from Jonny Greenwood.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
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The rapid approach of the animal—seemingly out of nowhere—prompted shrieks and a chaotic dash as tourists rushed to safety.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Seven months later, Tamara stood petrified in front of the TV, her older sister sobbing beside her, as a Beverly Hills Police Department detective announced that Erik and Lyle would be arrested as the prime suspects in the killings.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
12 Oct. 2025
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Marta’s brothers sobbed with the desperation of years, with childish anguish.—
Mariana Enriquez
October 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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To their right, a woman raised her hand, jabbing her index finger forward and shouting.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Oct. 2025
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Perry shouted into her microphone.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Deciphering the vocalizations involves both sound and context, as a dog’s bark or whine may be tied to its situation, Zhu said.—
Miriam Fauzia,
Boston Herald,
12 Oct. 2025
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The unfiltered electric soundtrack of the Evija goes from a piercing whine to an ear-splitting shriek.—
Tim Pitt,
Robb Report,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The courtroom’s gallery was crowded, with some observers weeping quietly during the brief proceeding.—
Meena Duerson,
CNN Money,
11 Oct. 2025
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The pride in Plough’s expressions and the tone of his voice was reflective of the theme that every victory is to be savored in this rough-and-tumble sport, one in which no one weeps for the wounded.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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At the slightest provocation, Ye bullies, hectors, and screams at everyone from Paris fashion-show lackeys to the mother of his child.—
Derek Robertson,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Oct. 2025
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For a company like Tesla, dumping the AM/FM radio to cut costs does not exactly scream innovation.—
Patrick George,
The Atlantic,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bawl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bawl. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
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