1
as in wails
a crying out in grief
when the underdogs lost the playoffs, the groans of millions of disappointed fans were heard throughout the land
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in moans
a long low sound indicating pain or grief
let out a groan when he tried to stand on the sprained ankle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in cries
to utter a moan
heard someone groaning in pain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of groans
Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
The crowd responded with groans after the move, which did damage to both men.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 25 May 2026
The architect gave a presentation with visuals that led to loud groans from an audience of several hundred.
—J.d. Miles, CBS News, 19 May 2026
When Tel received the ball in his own half a couple of minutes later and lost it carelessly, there were a few groans from the home fans.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 11 May 2026
The groans that have become standard in home playoff games in recent years kicked in quickly.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 2 May 2026
Simmons became a star when groans were the franchise soundtrack.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 30 Apr. 2026
Kimmel’s joke was met with an almost even number of laughs and groans, but little did anyone know that two days later at the actual WHCD there would be a shooting that derailed the entire night.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 27 Apr. 2026
All these moments are good for audience groans and there’s an enjoyable bad movie here for the seizing — that is when Cronin isn’t steering the action back to Egypt for an underpowered mystery thread involving a one-dimensional Cairo detective (May Calamawy) pursuing the root of the trouble.
—Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
Randy Myers, Mercury News, 23 May 2026
Six audibly groans, like the cyhyraeth echoing on the moors.
—Literary Hub, 21 May 2026
Vogt’s Juliette groans like a workhorse that knows it’s destined for the glue factory.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
The senior Trojan groans quietly, and brings the car to a halt.
—Natalie Escobar, NPR, 12 May 2026
McKellen can make a terrific meal out of just a few grunts and groans, spending whole scenes mumbling about nothing in particular; meanwhile, Coel comes across as impenetrable, yet alluringly so.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
For nearly two minutes in Monday’s 132-107 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, the Chicago Bulls played basketball to a soundtrack of gasps and groans.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
Back in the car, Albert moans and groans while Billie shrieks in panic.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Feb. 2026
The onslaught of bad news elicited howling in Canada, groans in Atlanta and frenetic Googling to determine just what, exactly, is the hamate bone.
—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026
Noun
Her remarks were met with groans, loud exhaling and other audible exasperation from a court gallery filled with victims and their families.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
The crowd responded with groans after the move, which did damage to both men.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 25 May 2026
The architect gave a presentation with visuals that led to loud groans from an audience of several hundred.
—J.d. Miles, CBS News, 19 May 2026
When Tel received the ball in his own half a couple of minutes later and lost it carelessly, there were a few groans from the home fans.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 11 May 2026
The groans that have become standard in home playoff games in recent years kicked in quickly.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 2 May 2026
Simmons became a star when groans were the franchise soundtrack.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 30 Apr. 2026
Kimmel’s joke was met with an almost even number of laughs and groans, but little did anyone know that two days later at the actual WHCD there would be a shooting that derailed the entire night.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 27 Apr. 2026
All these moments are good for audience groans and there’s an enjoyable bad movie here for the seizing — that is when Cronin isn’t steering the action back to Egypt for an underpowered mystery thread involving a one-dimensional Cairo detective (May Calamawy) pursuing the root of the trouble.
—Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
Expect a lot of kicks, punches, chases and grunts and groans.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 23 May 2026
Six audibly groans, like the cyhyraeth echoing on the moors.
—Literary Hub, 21 May 2026
Vogt’s Juliette groans like a workhorse that knows it’s destined for the glue factory.
—Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
The senior Trojan groans quietly, and brings the car to a halt.
—Natalie Escobar, NPR, 12 May 2026
McKellen can make a terrific meal out of just a few grunts and groans, spending whole scenes mumbling about nothing in particular; meanwhile, Coel comes across as impenetrable, yet alluringly so.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
For nearly two minutes in Monday’s 132-107 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, the Chicago Bulls played basketball to a soundtrack of gasps and groans.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
Back in the car, Albert moans and groans while Billie shrieks in panic.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Feb. 2026
The onslaught of bad news elicited howling in Canada, groans in Atlanta and frenetic Googling to determine just what, exactly, is the hamate bone.
—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for groans
Noun
-
Her wails of pain were audible on TV broadcasts as medics tended to her before a helicopter finally carried her away.—
Becky Sullivan,
NPR,
6 May 2026
-
Within moments, a smoke detector wails.—
Cyrus Farivar,
ArsTechnica,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
The moans announced the doubt throughout Riviera’s 18th green amphitheater, a bowl full of thousands of fans unsure if the new guy could do it.—
Brody Miller,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
-
At the moment that B’Tselem says Hathaleen collapsed, the visuals are jostled but moans of pain can be heard.—
Sam Metz,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The Bruins’ bat boy’s tears stained the front of Cholowsky’s jersey as his sobs grew heavier by the second.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
-
The 22-year-old Wembanyama was emotional, bursting into tears as the final horn blew and again choking back emotions after being named the Most Valuable Player of the WCF.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
31 May 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
Noun
-
These rock lamentations will not be carried over to the full-length album the band still has in the works, which Bono promises will have a more joyful tone.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The album’s Bandcamp blurb shouts out Ghédalia Tarzatès, the late French composer who collaged his wails and lamentations in the endangered Ladino language to evoke pangs of existential angst.—
H.D. Angel,
Pitchfork,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
At that point, a loud drum fill announces itself, snarling electric guitars kick in and McCartney’s trademark howls of old arrive in time for a fairly kick-ass chorus.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
23 May 2026
-
It’s installed bioacoustic cameras in Yellowstone to track wolves and analyze their howls.—
Alex Morris,
Rolling Stone,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
Warnings, laments, and odes to renewal were expressed pictorially as dying days under bleeding heavens, belching volcanoes, proud icebergs, lavish rainbows amid spangling, mist-suffusing sunlight and dawns of peace and hope.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
The sinew between Thundercat and Tame Impala is thick and obvious—one reason that Bruner doesn’t need ubiquitous Kevin Parker’s lethargic laments.—
Daniel Felsenthal,
Pitchfork,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Groans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/groans. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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