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
Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 17 Jan. 2026
But the night will be more remembered for the emotional tribute that had Marchand bawling by the end of it.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 25 Dec. 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
Dogs can read your emotions and Julie was bawling like crazy.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 17 Jan. 2026
But the night will be more remembered for the emotional tribute that had Marchand bawling by the end of it.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 25 Dec. 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
-
Though the arrest took place in 2023, the case faced new scrutiny in March after a video of the altercation — showing her yelling, putting Mortensen in a headlock and throwing chairs at him while a child could be heard crying — was published by TMZ.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
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This uber-neurotic comedian, actor, writer and now recording artist has spent the better part of two decades making audiences laugh, cringe, and cry, often within the same breath.—
Brittany Delay,
Mercury News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Though the arrest took place in 2023, the case faced new scrutiny in March after a video of the altercation — showing her yelling, putting Mortensen in a headlock and throwing chairs at him while a child could be heard crying — was published by TMZ.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
-
His superpower as a leader has long been his innate ability to effectively get his point across without having to yell and scream.—
Dane Mizutani,
Twin Cities,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
Back in the kitchen, the Plums and Greens all huddle around a sobbing Miriam to offer their support.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Rory McIlroy is the Masters champion again, this time without falling to his knees on the 18th green and sobbing over finally achieving his lifelong dream.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Is there a polite way to ask her to address this, short of shouting or splashing?—
Judith Martin,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Biff shouts at him at the show’s excruciating climax) sways between light and dark, between the road and the deadly shoulder, advancing through his last hours on earth as if through the stations of the cross.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
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In July 2024, Hilaria wept alongside her husband when a Santa Fe judge dismissed the involuntary manslaughter case against Alec after ruling that the prosecution had concealed evidence from his legal team.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
14 Apr. 2026
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Soon, their parents began to weep.—
Sarah Stillman,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Her screaming grounder to short caromed into left field and sent home Albon, who had singled and stole second.—
Tony Baranek,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Sandra Bullock asked a screaming crowd at CinemaCon on Tuesday, staring at Nicole Kidman.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bawl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bawl. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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