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
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
Two innings later, those groans developed into a cacophony of boos as the Twins pieced together a two-run winning rally.
—Dan Hayes, New York Times, 22 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
The trailer had plenty of groans, gasps and even a few tears as Knoxville and the crew put their bodies on the line to say goodbye.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
When Latino residents asked questions and voiced concerns, they were interrupted by jeers and groans from white members of the audience.
—Rafael Carranza, ProPublica, 26 Mar. 2026
After a clunky moment of audience groans and O’Brien trying to keep a straight face, the camera moved back to the winners.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 16 Mar. 2026
Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 7 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
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
Noun
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
Two innings later, those groans developed into a cacophony of boos as the Twins pieced together a two-run winning rally.
—Dan Hayes, New York Times, 22 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
The trailer had plenty of groans, gasps and even a few tears as Knoxville and the crew put their bodies on the line to say goodbye.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
When Latino residents asked questions and voiced concerns, they were interrupted by jeers and groans from white members of the audience.
—Rafael Carranza, ProPublica, 26 Mar. 2026
After a clunky moment of audience groans and O’Brien trying to keep a straight face, the camera moved back to the winners.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 16 Mar. 2026
Verb
The academic bookshelf groans with the weight of studies of the phenomenon, but the seminal analysis of the topic remains a 1997 paper by economist Severin Borenstein of UC Berkeley and his colleagues.
—Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 7 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
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
-
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 experience of finally achieving her dream of attending Howard and graduating with her son has moved Carla to tears.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
11 May 2026
-
Their ability to command a room is still evident decades later, as the cast sits onstage listening, and much of the audience is in tears by the end of the number.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
The trail eventually tilts back down toward the city, where car honks and train horns replace the cries of birds and insects.—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
4 May 2026
-
If recent history repeats, new cries could come from the crowd, too.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
2 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
-
The Kremlin’s internet blackouts, which have raised howls among ordinary Russians, are due in part to Putin’s security concerns and anti-drone measures.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
9 May 2026
-
Such prices have set off howls of protest from some fans.—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 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 16 May. 2026.
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