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
For one, the choice to keep football out of the Canton mall development gets some pushback and publicity, including from a former Cleveland Browns player who cries on the news about it. Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 27 Oct. 2025 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 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
The scared but resilient puppy cries as rescuers work to free her. Michael Nied, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025 There were cries of overreach when the Guard was deployed to stem segregationist tension in Arkansas and Alabama in the 1950s and '60s. Newsweek Contributors, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025 After a minute of this, the man’s cries die out, as do his movements. Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025 God hears the cries of the oppressed and calls His church to do the same. Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025 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
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
  • In a video from the show, Dijon sings the Swag standout while the audience can be heard singing along.
    Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 2 Nov. 2025
  • He was motivated by his mom, who also sings and performs at parties doing tributes to stars like Gloria Trevi.
    Griselda Flores, Billboard, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Nothing about WristbandGuy shouts at all.
    Daniel Kolitz, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
  • The mother shouts her daughter’s name.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 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
  • Those calls should be directed to the utility provider.
    Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Nov. 2025
  • But DeSantis dismissed calls from state Democrats to declare an emergency, tap into emergency funds and distribute food aid as funding for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program lapses.
    Romy Ellenbogen, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • In a December 2023 video posted online by Maduro, Villegas can be seen holding up a radio in the cockpit as the president trades patriotic slogans with the pilot of a Russian Sukhoi fighter jet.
    Joshua Goodman, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2025
  • The Church, which is considered a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, is best known for organizing pickets at soldiers’ funerals and emblazoning anti-LGBT slogans on protest signs and billboards.
    Lilit Marcus, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • And while much of it rests on tradition, this dish’s combination of crispy skin and tender meat appeals to anyone who loves delicious food.
    Taylor Tobin, Southern Living, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Since then, adoption appeals have poured in from across India and overseas.
    Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Visitors have reported hearing the sound of cell doors closing, faint screams and footsteps around the cell blocks.
    Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 21 Oct. 2025
  • The girl's father, who did not see the incident but heard the mother's screams, jumped overboard to rescue his daughter.
    Sarah Rumpf-Whitten , Adriana James-Rodil, FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Cries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cries. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.

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