cries 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of cry
1
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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2
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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3

cries

2 of 2

noun

plural of cry
1
2
3
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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4
5
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
The majority of the action, however, unfolds in a claustrophobic one-shot inside a tent, with our heroes quaking at the whoops and cries surrounding them. Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025 The viral recording also captured her emotions, screams and cries throughout the intense labor process. Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025 Groggy, the singer almost cries trying to grab a banana to eat. Bryan West, USA Today, 7 Oct. 2025 The guy even cries a bit after winning, hoping to make his family at home proud. Nick Caruso, TVLine, 24 Sep. 2025 To test how adults respond, scientists played 23 different recordings of baby cries to 41 men and women with little to no infant-care experience. Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025 This is one of the worst of them, with Alec Baldwin bravely fighting to bring Medgar Evers’s assassin to justice while Whoopi Goldberg cheers him on and cries. Will Leitch, Vulture, 13 Sep. 2025 Faustus cries, as demons, closing the deal, prepare to pull him down to the pit. Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025 Milk leaks from the breast when the baby cries, no real thoughts passed between mother and child. Ellyn Gaydos august 11, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2025
Noun
While many messages and cries against the administration were shared, the common thread of the protest was people coming together to show America's strength and the power of the people. Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal, 18 Oct. 2025 Her soft sobs erupted into cries that filled the room. Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025 It’s designed to detect your baby’s cries and automatically responds by gently rocking them to white noise and motion—a win for baby, and for mom. Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2025 On a day filled with hope and celebration in Israel, families greeted their returning relatives with trembling hands and cries of elation. Elmira Aliieva, NBC news, 14 Oct. 2025 The cries of the bird caught by the bat matched those of the European robin. Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2025 The cries and coos Lydia and all the other Fairfield mothers made around her little sister made Catherine sick. Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025 Others weren't surprised by seeing a Yorkshire terrier as the one behind the cries. Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025 There are increasing cries from both the political right and left for opposite treatments. John Wihbey, Big Think, 7 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cries
Verb
  • Darcey sobs as Georgi continues to defend himself for not easily opening up to others.
    Abigail Adams, People.com, 22 Aug. 2025
  • Dever threw the compliment right back at Pascal and Ramsey, for the scene when Ramsey’s Ellie sobs over Joel’s lifeless body.
    Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 17 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Working with producer Bob Pickering, Pride often sings over a string section and a saxophone on Endlessly.
    Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 18 Oct. 2025
  • With this song, YOASOBI sings about continuing to dance on stage and committing to their roles, even without applause or in the face of ridicule.
    Billboard Japan, Billboard, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The mother shouts her daughter’s name.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Opting for a retailer that actively shouts out Latine brands is another way to go.
    Sofía Viera, Allure, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The long recess has drawn howls of protest from Democratic leaders, who have returned to Washington to demand negotiations that might lead to a bipartisan spending bill that could reopen the government.
    Mike Lillis, The Hill, 10 Oct. 2025
  • More importantly, the most recent of these sightings, just two years ago, was by a railroad passenger, so keep a lookout for a tall, hairy figure, or for massive footprints, which are also commonly reported, and listen for the mysterious creature’s spine-tingling howls.
    The Editors, Outside, 31 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Bethune visited the home of Malik Mustapha after practice to watch film and then texted him about play calls and route concepts.
    Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 20 Oct. 2025
  • That meant fewer pick-and-rolls, fewer handoffs, fewer play calls, more paint attacks and an uptick in pace this preseason.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Wyeth had taken several photos of a woman wearing three layers of denim vests, all filled with pins and slogans against fascism, against patriarchy, against the pipeline, against the former rapist in chief, against starving children, against book bans, against transphobes.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Yankees exceptionalism now exists not on the field, but in the team store — on slogans and souvenirs, not titles and trophies.
    Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The Kelly administration appealed that decision, delaying the financial punishment and buying time for its possible reversal through the appeals process or a court order.
    Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Such rote, nakedly procedural appeals inherently reek of moral relativism to the extent they are not grounded at all in any substantive conception of good and bad, or right and wrong.
    Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The woman's muffled screams are heard one more time before the video ends.
    Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 14 Oct. 2025
  • By following her screams, the officer found the woman as the three suspects drove away, police said.
    Daniella Segura, Sacbee.com, 14 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Cries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cries. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.

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