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
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
18 Mar. 2026
Crowds of hundreds with their heads lowered bawled loudly in unison; others fell to the ground and shook in their grief.
—
Gal Beckerman,
The Atlantic,
3 Mar. 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
Both men bawled in a viral clip that brought their accomplishment into full focus.
—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
18 Mar. 2026
Crowds of hundreds with their heads lowered bawled loudly in unison; others fell to the ground and shook in their grief.
—
Gal Beckerman,
The Atlantic,
3 Mar. 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
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The Padres, the team that put up a meme of Clayton Kershaw crying on the video board.
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Grown men hugged one another, and at least one started crying.
Verb
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TVs are everywhere, showing races from tracks around the country, and bettors gather around the screens to learn the fate of their wagers, not infrequently yelling at them in the many languages and accents of Queens.
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Court filings state commissioners discussed allegations that Newton yelled at people and was not in the office during hours employees were expected to be present and available.
Noun
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Less than 30 seconds later came the shriek of the two missiles that lanced through Turmus’ car.
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Henley's voice crested toward a shriek.
Verb
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One mother sobbed and collapsed in grief as the bodies of her 3- and 10-year-old children were wrapped in blankets and carried away.
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On the first day of the trial, during Srebnick’s opening argument, Pino sobbed in front of the jury, leading the judge to pause proceedings.
Verb
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The shot sailed over the bar before England keeper Jordan Pickford shouted at his defenders, clearly displeased with the lack of resistance in their own half.
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Hundreds of people have gathered throughout the week to carry posters, shout slogans, and sing.
Noun
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Test recordings sounded clear and full, and the noise cancellation completely blocked out the buzz and whine of my 3D printer.
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Lee's voice has always been Sui generis, a distinctive instrument caught between a whine and a yelp yet immediately recognizable.
Verb
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After winning the Grammy for best contemporary country album in February, Jelly Roll emotionally dedicated the trophy to Bunnie, who wept and applauded in the audience.
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In a joint confessional, Zac also wept over his tense relationship with the Plaths, especially Lydia’s brothers.
Verb
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Like why does Bravo think making the captions all different sizes screams Gen Z?
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For Denver, who sent the pick away, this screams cost-cutting measure for a team running into second apron issues.
Cite this Entry
“Bawl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bawl. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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