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
Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Feb. 2026
Dogs can read your emotions and Julie was bawling like crazy.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 17 Jan. 2026
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
Specifically, during a phone call Sullivan had with Eric after the ordeal, which marked a low point for the series as Eric launched into a verbal tirade while cameras captured Sullivan crumpled into a bawling heap.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Feb. 2026
Dogs can read your emotions and Julie was bawling like crazy.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 17 Jan. 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
See All Example Sentences for bawl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bawl
Verb
-
In a feat of sorcery that should have other sandwich makers crying in their beer, the ciabatta roll here is tender and comparatively thin.—
Brock Keeling,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
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Margo, meanwhile, is freaking out, crying and hyperventilating.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Nabers yelled out, rising from a couch and limping around the room.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
24 Apr. 2026
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With his victim present, a chastened Fallon graciously played a clip of Hubicki yelling at him.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Is such an existential shriek into the abyss, all while living in a society suffused by mind-numbing grief and nationalism, worth subjecting yourself to?—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
28 Mar. 2026
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Lee’s introduction of Liu sparked shrieks, mostly among young students from the nearby Oakland School for the Arts, which Liu also attended for one semester.—
Ron Kroichick,
San Francisco Chronicle,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Jackson’s sister, who was in the courtroom, sobbed as Jackson’s attorneys spoke to her.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
22 Apr. 2026
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The audio included crying, screaming and banging, prompting jurors to sob and appear visibly shaken.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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At one point, the crew shot a scene in which Whalen’s character joins a bar fight, shouting invectives at a hapless extra before pummelling him to the ground.—
Chang Che,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
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One final command was shouted by the officer.—
Brian Day,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Both motors stay at or below 45 dBA even at full power, something that will genuinely surprise anyone used to the whine of current-generation motors.—
Omar Kardoudi
April 10,
New Atlas,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The whine from that straight-cut gearbox alone is painfully loud, say nothing of the wide-open exhaust on the 4.0 L flat-six.—
Tim Stevens,
ArsTechnica,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, concludes in 1988, with Jackson gliding across a London stadium stage, performing in that white T-shirt and black jacket full of zippers, as fans weep before him.—
Steve Knopper,
Rolling Stone,
22 Apr. 2026
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The humidity can make your meringue weep.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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There are so, so many screaming questions that nobody will ever have answers to.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2026
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The reveal is pretty hilarious with everyone screaming and scrambling around like cartoon characters.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bawl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bawl. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
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