groans 1 of 2

Definition of groansnext
plural of groan
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

groans

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of groan

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 groans
Noun
Poehler's joke received one of the biggest reactions of the monologue, earning a mixture of laughs and groans. Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 23 Dec. 2025 The crowd immediately let out a mix of laughter and groans as Mathews tried to swap his plate for the one in front of Bertinelli. Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Dec. 2025 The response must surely have elicited groans from aides to Stefanik’s current campaign to become New York’s governor. Niall Stanage, The Hill, 21 Nov. 2025 But neither one of them feels quite so threatening to the top two — and so likely to elicit groans from the peanut gallery — as Hamnet. Joe Reid, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025 The room responded with playful groans. Haley Kluge, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025 More than one person fell victim to wayward gourds that careened down Midland Road to the cheers and groans of an eager audience. Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 3 Nov. 2025 Yankee Stadium released exasperated groans as New York fell to Toronto’s rotating relievers and the Yankees’ bats faltered in late-inning opportunities. The Athletic Mlb Staff, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025 Eventually, audible groans could be heard on the recording. Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
At the same time, the catalogue groans under the weight of all the local talent working at the cutting edge of the form. Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 2 Jan. 2026 Arthur groans, but there is affection in his protest. Literary Hub, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for groans
Noun
  • Ride the thrill of Hostile Design’s passionate wails and percussion overload when the group headlines eight shows to kick off the new year, making their way across California, Rhode Island, Quebec, Ontario, Pennsylvania, and Illinois with the same energy that once fueled their humble beginnings.
    Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 8 Jan. 2026
  • The ear-splitting wails came from a little girl trying to get the star’s attention.
    Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 3 Dec. 2025
Noun
  • Stein’s bedroom adjoined the room where Dodge would visit her lover at night; kept awake by the murmurings and moans, Stein lit a candle and composed a portrait of her host.
    Via Scribner, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Most of these are held in a tent, from which loud, ecstatic moans can be heard for seemingly miles around.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Christopher Patterson's mother held back tears as his family and friends gathered on Friday outside the home where the 23-year-old lost his life two days before.
    Jermont Terry, CBS News, 10 Jan. 2026
  • Narrated by Colm Feore and James Hyndman in the English and French versions of the movie, respectively, the 17-minute stop-motion short follows a poor young boy who discovers a girl whose tears, evoked by a sad home life, turn into pristine pearls.
    Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 9 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Demonstrations have included cries in support of the shah, something that could bring a death sentence in the past but now underlines the anger fueling the protests that began over Iran’s ailing economy.
    Jon Gambrell, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Demonstrations have included cries in support of the shah, something that could bring a death sentence in the past but now underlines the anger fueling the protests that began over Iran’s ailing economy.
    Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The language surrounding Bailey echoes sentiments from the 1990s and early 2000s, when public revelations of a celebrity’s homosexuality often triggered exaggerated lamentations from straight female fans.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
  • The previous two Jennings collaborations — 2024’s The Fear of Standing Still and 2020’s Lamentations — are two of Barham’s personal favorites in his entire catalog.
    Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The year's first full moon is best known as the wolf moon since the howls of wolves were more likely to be heard during winter, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.
    Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 2 Jan. 2026
  • United Methodist leadership with the bishop’s office preached to students, who welcomed the leaders with excited howls.
    Liam Adams, Nashville Tennessean, 29 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Continue reading … WAR OF WORDS – AOC weighs in after Republican laments 'humiliation' of Mamdani campaigning in Arabic.
    , FOXNews.com, 4 Nov. 2025
  • The poem ends with the hero’s burial and the laments of his followers.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Groans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/groans. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.

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