CATERWAULING Synonyms: 109 Similar and Opposite Words

caterwauling 1 of 2

adjective

as in vocal

engaging in or marked by loud and insistent cries especially of protest caterwauling fans vented on the talk radio show when news of the trade of the team's star player came to light

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caterwauling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of caterwaul

as in complaining

to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely like many kids during summer vacation, they were caterwauling about the lack of things to do

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of caterwauling

Verb

As a musician, Ono was known for singing in what has been described as a screechy, caterwauling voice, and many of her musical collaborations with Lennon were baffling to Beatles fans. — Barbara Spindel, Christian Science Monitor, 24 Mar. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for caterwauling

Adjective

The South London artist channels Disney soundtrack tropes into claustrophobic strings and drones, while a handful of vocal tracks hint darkly at real-world family drama.

— Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 7 Oct. 2026
Best Pop Solo Performance can be a space where the Recording Academy recognizes — and perhaps awards — artists with songs that truly connect with the world, regardless of vocal chops.

— Jaeden Pinder, Rolling Stone, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of vocal

Verb

But Chee Meng kept complaining about his shirts being misplaced, and Shawn knew that the man was still slipping out, either to look for work or for other purposes.

— Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
Staff were complaining about the connection in February, Wired reported, and Transformer reported that employees confronted Lehane in a meeting in May, pushing the company to explain its relationship with LTF.

— Garrison Lovely, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of complaining

Adjective

As election season starts in much of the world, officials note an uptick in both blatant and subtle uses of social media to sow lies among voters.

— the Monitor's Editorial Board, Christian Science Monitor, 6 Oct. 2026
How successful the gerrymandering actually was remains to be seen — Republicans are polling poorly in the Lone Star State, perhaps in part because of their blatant attempt to cheat voters out of their voices.

— The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of blatant

Verb

Research on hitting objects does not support it as a way to reduce anger, and there are too few studies of screaming to conclude its effects.

— Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026
Onstage, Slayyyter, whose real name is Catherine Grace Garner, is a force, constantly moving around the stage, thrashing her head along to the music and screaming the lyrics to her songs.

— Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of screaming

Adjective

Debra Tate, Sharon Tate’s sister, has been an outspoken advocate for keeping Krenwinkel and other former followers of Manson behind bars.

— Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
Many industry critics were also outspoken when Netflix's studio and streaming deal was on the table, with particular focus on the future of movies staying in theaters.

— ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of outspoken

Adjective

The Sun, who now begin the process of relocating to Houston for next season, gave their loyal, vociferous and orange-clad fans a goodbye present, a 95-81 victory over the Toronto Tempo, just a little something to remember them by.

— Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 2026
It's led by Alexei Zhuravlev, who holds its only seat in the Duma and is known for vociferous attacks on the West on state TV.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of vociferous

Verb

For a cold moment the silence locked a grip on our table, though it was broken, at the edges, by the golf commentators moaning and harrumphing, Rory McIlroy having had a canary on a seventeenth fairway somewhere this championship Sunday.

— Kevin Barry, New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2026
By the time Fowler gave up trying to put one in Carruthers, DiLiberato could hear her client moaning and see blood oozing out of his puncture wounds.

— Keri Blakinger, ProPublica, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of moaning

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“Caterwauling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/caterwauling. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of caterwauling

adjective

verb

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