as in crying
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as in moaning
to utter a moan
heard someone groaning in pain
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of groaning
Beren Cross, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2026
Immediately as Silva got out of his SUV, he was shot in the hand and soon after in the head, grunting and groaning in pain as blood spatter suddenly appeared on his uniform sleeve.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2026
When dinner was served, some of the highest flyers of Chicago were laid low, falling to the floor, groaning in agony and vomiting.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
The branches of that tree hanging over your home are groaning and creaking, tossed against each other like so many toothpicks.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 30 Jan. 2026
The color of the sort of deep bruising normally associated with OSHA violations, Chicago’s uniforms herald long periods of bed rest and a night table groaning from the weight of so many prescription painkillers.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 16 Jan. 2026
That legendary multiyear circumnavigation, a 45-minute sequence marked by paranoia, hallucinations, death, disease, starvation, groaning silence and crushing despair, makes for one of the most casually brutal depictions of transoceanic voyaging ever committed to film.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
That initial thrill quickly crashed into groaning frustration when readers got to the end and realized they’d been left dangling on a devastating cliffhanger, in classic, unmatched Yarros fashion.
—Rebecca Yarros, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
In a now-viral Instagram video that has clocked more than 600,000 views, Susnick was heard groaning in pain from the tub while Russell stood anxiously outside the bathroom doorway.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
Verb
This was the first time in a long time that a Leeds side left the Elland Road crowd audibly frustrated, groaning at every backwards pass or defensive slip-up.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2026
Immediately as Silva got out of his SUV, he was shot in the hand and soon after in the head, grunting and groaning in pain as blood spatter suddenly appeared on his uniform sleeve.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2026
When dinner was served, some of the highest flyers of Chicago were laid low, falling to the floor, groaning in agony and vomiting.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
The branches of that tree hanging over your home are groaning and creaking, tossed against each other like so many toothpicks.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 30 Jan. 2026
The color of the sort of deep bruising normally associated with OSHA violations, Chicago’s uniforms herald long periods of bed rest and a night table groaning from the weight of so many prescription painkillers.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 16 Jan. 2026
That legendary multiyear circumnavigation, a 45-minute sequence marked by paranoia, hallucinations, death, disease, starvation, groaning silence and crushing despair, makes for one of the most casually brutal depictions of transoceanic voyaging ever committed to film.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026
That initial thrill quickly crashed into groaning frustration when readers got to the end and realized they’d been left dangling on a devastating cliffhanger, in classic, unmatched Yarros fashion.
—Rebecca Yarros, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
In a now-viral Instagram video that has clocked more than 600,000 views, Susnick was heard groaning in pain from the tub while Russell stood anxiously outside the bathroom doorway.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for groaning
Adjective
-
But his crying scene in Ford v Ferrari is one for the ages.—
Michael Granberry,
Dallas News,
17 Jan. 2020
Verb
-
While Slot was moaning about having to play two away matches in four days (and about missing a couple of key players), Emery, also without important figures such as Boubacar Kamara, was overseeing his Villa side playing the same tough schedule and win both games without conceding a goal.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
-
While lying on the pavement, he could be heard moaning as an officer shouted at him not to move.—
Jose R. Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
13 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
The City of Aurora, Illinois, is touting a howling success.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
With relentless howling wind making up much of the soundtrack, The Turin Horse was a chilling, enigmatic stunner that played like a metaphor for the apocalypse.—
Tim Grierson,
Rolling Stone,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The actor Marisa Abela plays her in a binary state of panic and swagger by sobbing like a dejected child or slyly grinning like one who’s about to wolf down an ice-cream cake.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
2 Mar. 2026
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The paramedics arrived on scene, reassuring the huddled, sobbing mess of Mom and us children that all would be okay.—
Des Moines Register,
Des Moines Register,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Groaning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/groaning. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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