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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
3
as in shouts
to speak so as to be heard at a distance
a mother crying for help
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in howls
a loud vocal expression of strong emotion
a cry of despair arose when the smoke of the bomb blast cleared
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in calls
a natural vocal sound made by an animal
the lonesome cry of a coyote
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in appeals
an earnest request
the king was deaf to their cries
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in screams
a sudden short emotional utterance
cries of disbelief greeted the announcement of the surprise winner for best picture
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of cries
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 6 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
As the child incessantly cries day and night, Henry begins to have surreal visions that only an innovative mind like Lynch's could devise.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Jan. 2026
Sophie holds back and cries in her room.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
The toddler cries more, throws tantrums.
—Meg Anderson, NPR, 22 Jan. 2026
In the clip, all four of her children are sitting on the bed, while one of the twins cries loudly.
—Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
Watching, Heining cries every darn time.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 31 Dec. 2025
Sean Emery, Oc Register, 5 Mar. 2026
Grandma and grandpa may mean well, but some of their parenting styles are no longer recommended based on years of research—like ignoring your baby’s cries or forcing a school-age child clean their plate at dinner.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 3 Mar. 2026
Magnano then fires nine shots toward Jones, Jones immediately collapses to the ground as people in the area could be heard letting out horrific screams and cries.
—Kellie Love, Hartford Courant, 3 Mar. 2026
Severe dehydration follows, evident in lethargy, dry mouth and lips, doughy skin and weak cries.
—Dr. Rahul K. Parikh, Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2026
Now the president’s staunchest supporters are echoing the anti-war cries of lefties.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2026
Their cries did not fall on deaf ears.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2026
All of the 10 first-time nominees having debuted on the scene in the 1980s, 1990s or, as with Pink, 2000, despite the annual cries from fans of older rock bands of the ’60s and ’70s that their favorites are still overdue.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 25 Feb. 2026
On a typical day, the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center in Scottsdale reverberates with animal cries and the footfalls of gawking visitors.
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
Though both of them tear up, neither of them openly cries.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 6 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
As the child incessantly cries day and night, Henry begins to have surreal visions that only an innovative mind like Lynch's could devise.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Jan. 2026
Sophie holds back and cries in her room.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
The toddler cries more, throws tantrums.
—Meg Anderson, NPR, 22 Jan. 2026
In the clip, all four of her children are sitting on the bed, while one of the twins cries loudly.
—Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
Watching, Heining cries every darn time.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 31 Dec. 2025
Noun
Apparently hearing her mother’s cries, 11-year-old Duong came into the bedroom, the prosecutor added.
—Sean Emery, Oc Register, 5 Mar. 2026
Grandma and grandpa may mean well, but some of their parenting styles are no longer recommended based on years of research—like ignoring your baby’s cries or forcing a school-age child clean their plate at dinner.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 3 Mar. 2026
Magnano then fires nine shots toward Jones, Jones immediately collapses to the ground as people in the area could be heard letting out horrific screams and cries.
—Kellie Love, Hartford Courant, 3 Mar. 2026
Severe dehydration follows, evident in lethargy, dry mouth and lips, doughy skin and weak cries.
—Dr. Rahul K. Parikh, Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2026
Now the president’s staunchest supporters are echoing the anti-war cries of lefties.
—Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2026
Their cries did not fall on deaf ears.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2026
All of the 10 first-time nominees having debuted on the scene in the 1980s, 1990s or, as with Pink, 2000, despite the annual cries from fans of older rock bands of the ’60s and ’70s that their favorites are still overdue.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 25 Feb. 2026
On a typical day, the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center in Scottsdale reverberates with animal cries and the footfalls of gawking visitors.
—Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cries
Verb
-
There are a few inarticulate screams and sobs but no dialogue, no lyrics, no spoken intro, no utterances at all.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The series ends as Eddie goes into Jamie's bedroom, sobs into the comforter and holds his teddy bear.—
Jessica Sager,
PEOPLE,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Sinatra sings it well, but Paul Robeson sang it better.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Mary plays a variety of instruments and also sings.—
Rick Mauch,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Koy shouts, his excitement echoing in the stadium.—
Deputy Entertainment,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Mars in your expressive 5th house shouts to reactive Uranus in your 8th House of Inheritances.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Aquilla Sadalla’s wordless vocals, a gorgeous swell of howls and heaves, complement the arrangement without becoming the focal point.—
Mark Richardson,
Pitchfork,
3 Feb. 2026
-
The Wolf Moon name dates back to Indigenous and early Anglo-Saxon traditions, inspired by the winter wolves whose howls echoed across cold January nights.—
Doug Melville,
Forbes.com,
3 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
At February's ruling party congress, Kim left the door open to dialogue with the United States, reiterating Pyongyang's earlier calls that Washington drop its demands for the North's denuclearization as a precondition for reviving talks.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The Dallas Cowboys are receiving calls inquiring about veteran defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa and his potential availability on the trade market, according to multiple sources.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Over the years, more than 11,000 inscriptions have been found across the city, ranging from political commentary and love declarations to sporting slogans, jokes, and poems.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Across Pompeii, over 11,000 inscriptions have been found, including political commentary, love declarations, sporting slogans, jokes, and poems — the graffiti of its time, almost like an ancient Reddit board.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
What follows this admission is a piercing dissection not of the art itself, but of frameworks of looking at Black art and life that go beyond racist tropes disguised as appeals to the primitive, the spontaneous, the corporeal.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Both prior appeals were denied.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
My screams finally drew my friend’s mom to intervene.—
Jennifer Wolfgram,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Two of their younger brothers heard his screams from an adjacent room.—
Dan Sullivan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cries. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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