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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of caterwauling
Barbara Spindel, Christian Science Monitor, 24 Mar. 2025
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
-
Pink is no comedian and many of the show’s bits fell flat, but the star’s fandom seemed genuine and her vocal prowess the envy of many a Tony nominee.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
-
The 79th Annual Tony Awards were a fitting coda to the 2025–26 Broadway season, offering all the requisite nostalgia, vocal prowess, ensemble energy, and a generous amount of pelvic thrusting.—
Lea Donenberg,
Vogue,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
The move was met with outrage, with fans criticizing the singer for jumping the gun and complaining that the weather had cleared up before becoming too serious.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 June 2026
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Doja Cat is most likely referring to voice notes, or the audio post feature, which seemed to be discontinued on X sometime in early 2025, according to user posts complaining that the feature had been removed.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
Given the movie’s blatant satire of recent horror movies, it’s expected to do well beyond just English-speaking including Germany and Latin America.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
3 June 2026
-
Congress, having discovered some spine, should revolt at this blatant self-dealing as well.—
Austin Elias-de Jesus,
New Yorker,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
As if each of us isn’t a walking embodiment of our moment, clueless and attuned at once, screaming about one thing and in total denial about another.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
-
There were the arrests of tearful and screaming immigrants, captured on video and played on endless loops across social media.—
Moriah Balingit,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
Adjective
-
The Catholic Church has long been outspoken against war.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
-
Brittany Elkin, a Gaston County native and parent to two GCS students, has become an outspoken advocate for more school funding in recent months.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Well, certainly a lot of whining about technology.—
Inga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 June 2026
-
The driver is seen singing happily to himself, then glancing out his window with a slight look of concern as the sound of the jet’s whining engines begins on the recording.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
Mentions of the San Antonio Spurs also elicited vociferous boos.—
Stephen Whyno,
Fortune,
9 June 2026
-
Mentions of the San Antonio Spurs also elicited vociferous boos.—
Stephen Whyno,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
Verb
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The process left Carruthers bleeding and moaning on May 21, according to the witness, Maria DeLiberato, senior counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union's Capital Punishment Project.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
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The stuff with a load of people wearing wigs moaning about taxes just isn’t seen as very glamorous.—
Sean Woods,
Rolling Stone,
25 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Caterwauling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/caterwauling. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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