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
Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
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
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
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
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
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
-
Officials said that after Cooper’s arrest, the first victim, a runaway, was crying hysterically and denied any involvement in prostitution.—
Samantha Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
-
Though the arrest took place over three years ago, the case faced new scrutiny in March when TMZ published a video of the altercation, showing Paul yelling, putting Mortensen in a headlock and throwing chairs at him while a child could be heard crying.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Though the arrest took place over three years ago, the case faced new scrutiny in March when TMZ published a video of the altercation, showing Paul yelling, putting Mortensen in a headlock and throwing chairs at him while a child could be heard crying.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
-
McLaughlin could be heard yelling on his camera video.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Less than 30 seconds later came the shriek of the two missiles that lanced through Turmus’ car.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
-
Henley's voice crested toward a shriek.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Agreed, there’s incredible power in those close-ups of people singing and sobbing along with Eilish’s songs.—
Mikael Wood,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
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The thirty-something sobbing on the shoreline over another lost pregnancy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 May 2026
Verb
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For more than 10 minutes, officers shouted at Lopez to drop his 6-inch butcher knife, according to a report by then-Police Chief Michel Moore and POST’s investigation.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
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In one of the videos, al-Nasaan’s body can be seen on the ground as his friends shout for help.—
Molly Hunter,
NBC news,
2 May 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
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This man who had overseen the protection of national artworks from the advancing German army—this man wept like a child on the floor and begged his mistress not to abandon him.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 May 2026
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Nearly a year ago, Stone wept with joy at the news that her old friend Robert Francis Prevost — born in Chicago and raised in south suburban Dolton — made history as the first American to be elected pope.—
Angie Leventis Lourgos,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
Verb
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As the recording, which lasts over an hour, continues, Athena’s screams can be heard.—
Jamie Stengle,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
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The audio recording captured the sounds of the ensuing attack, including banging, screaming, crying and choking.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bawl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bawl. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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