CRIES Synonyms: 134 Similar and Opposite Words

cries 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of cry

as in sobs

to shed tears often while making meaningless sounds as a sign of pain or distress some kids started to cry even before the doctor had given them their shot

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Relevance

as in sings

to utter one's distinctive animal sound we knew that we were getting very close to the ocean when we could hear sea gulls crying

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sings
calls

as in shouts

to speak so as to be heard at a distance a mother crying for help

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

cries

2 of 2

noun

plural of cry

as in howls

a loud vocal expression of strong emotion a cry of despair arose when the smoke of the bomb blast cleared

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in calls

a natural vocal sound made by an animal the lonesome cry of a coyote

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as in slogans

an attention-getting word or phrase used to publicize something (as a campaign or product) "A chance to change America" was the cry on which the candidate was hoping to win the White House

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as in appeals

an earnest request the king was deaf to their cries

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as in screams

a sudden short emotional utterance cries of disbelief greeted the announcement of the surprise winner for best picture

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Example Sentences

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 cries

Verb

Jennifer Brook cries her own tears for her husband. —

Dawn White, CBS News, 28 May 2026 By the beginning of the second episode, Margo has dropped out of school and is the totally broke single mother to a colicky baby, Bodhi, who cries so committedly that two of Margo’s roommates move out. —

Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026 In the spot, Shane sits in a middle seat next to a chatty flier while a baby cries in the background. —

Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026 New phone footage leaked to TMZ appears to show Paul putting Mortensen in a choke hold and hurling metal chairs at him; a child cries. —

Rebecca Jennings, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026 Many first-time parents worry about how others might react if a baby cries on a flight, but experienced travelers say those concerns are often unnecessary, Kay said. —

Dallas Morning News, 13 Mar. 2026 An old movie in which a character cries at old movies takes an even faster path to tears, yet even then, age is the subject. —

Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026 Néfissa cries loudly and with anguish about her son, but refuses to acknowledge his truth. —

Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026 Paranoia and loneliness are what I'm left clinging to as my husband cries in the room next door. —

Mason Leib, ABC News, 2 Feb. 2026

Noun

Then, the cries of Ginny’s baby are a major wake-up call for the couple that can’t be ignored. —

Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 28 May 2026 The house band drums intensify, a violin cries and guitar chords growl. —

Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026 Wails pierce the air in a mix of lyrical song and unrestrained cries; a group of mourners wave leafy branches and beat them against the ground in a rhythm. —

ABC News, 18 May 2026 Rallying cries were common before key games, particularly those where Everton’s top-flight status was on the line. —

Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 15 May 2026 Shaina Montiel says her mother stills cries thinking about her harrowing experience with hantavirus at age 5, which, according to the CDC, can have a fatality rate up to 38%, depending on the type of syndrome caused by it. —

Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 12 May 2026 Passengers later described hearing faint cries in the distance—moments that confirmed both individuals were still alive. —

Staff Author, PEOPLE, 6 May 2026 The trail eventually tilts back down toward the city, where car honks and train horns replace the cries of birds and insects. —

John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 4 May 2026 If recent history repeats, new cries could come from the crowd, too. —

Josh Gross, Daily News, 2 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cries

Verb

Cassie, who doesn’t seem very concerned about Nate, sobs on the floor in disbelief, covered in blood and shocked that someone could disrupt what should be the perfect end to her evening.

— Zoe Papelis, Vulture, 27 Apr. 2026
The glow of hundreds of candles illuminated somber faces, sobs often cutting through the silence in the crisp spring air.

— Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2026