1
as in groan
a long low sound indicating pain or grief
she uttered an agonized moan and clutched her stomach
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2
as in wail
a crying out in grief
moans arose from the crowd as the funeral procession for the well-loved senator made its way down the street
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3
as in whine
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment
the crowd responded with a moan when it was announced that the rest of the show would be cancelled due to the weather
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1
as in to groan
to utter a moan
he moaned and cried for days after his dog, his only companion, died
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2
as in to complain
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
their son moaned whenever anyone asked him to do some work
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of moan
Sarah Stillman, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
With 1:06 left in the first period, Montreal’s Nick Suzuki ties it 1-1 and a collective moan echoes across the rink — one that the Cardinals players have heard on the field at Busch Stadium when something goes wrong.
—Jeremy Rutherford, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Sui-Lee Wee, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
This was a departure from Mourinho and Conte, who both moaned about investment, attacked the club culture, exited unceremoniously, and bad-mouthed them afterward.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for moan
Noun
This time, Mary looked famine-struck and spoke mostly in pained moans.
—Sarah Stillman, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
With 1:06 left in the first period, Montreal’s Nick Suzuki ties it 1-1 and a collective moan echoes across the rink — one that the Cardinals players have heard on the field at Busch Stadium when something goes wrong.
—Jeremy Rutherford, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Verb
Others had their heads and arms bandaged and were lined up on stretchers, moaning.
—Sui-Lee Wee, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
This was a departure from Mourinho and Conte, who both moaned about investment, attacked the club culture, exited unceremoniously, and bad-mouthed them afterward.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for moan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moan
Noun
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Augustina and Blessing are proof of that, milling outside the prison walls, caught between madcap laughter and wails of pain — the polarities of grief.—
Brenna Ehrlich,
Rolling Stone,
29 Mar. 2025
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War within a war Rosalinda Cabanillas lets out a guttural wail that echoes across the entire cemetery.—
Isobel Yeung,
CNN Money,
2 May 2025
Noun
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Roxy doesn't take her eyes from the screen, and when Aishah turns the camera to show what's happening in the movie, Roxy can be heard making a noise somewhere between a growl and a whine.—
Mohammed Soliman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Apr. 2025
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Inside the fence, the atmosphere was oddly peaceful, and sometimes so quiet that the loudest noise was the whine of an overhead drone.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
6 May 2025
Verb
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Tables groaned with treats: plates of seafood, bowls of Greek salad, tubs of plump olives.—
Tony Perrottet,
Travel + Leisure,
13 May 2025
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The auteur’s new ensemble film practically groans under the weight of A-list headliners such as Benicio Del Toro, Benedict Cumberbatch, Riz Ahmed, Jeffrey Wright and Tom Hanks.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
7 May 2025
Verb
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Cannon complained to Delta and to the Department of Transportation, which regulates airlines.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
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Company officials also complained that the administration of former Mayor Lori Lightfoot slowed down financing approval, a charge Lightfoot vehemently denies.—
Brian J. Rogal,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2025
Noun
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The user's husband initially dismissed the sound as a fox, but as the cries continued, curiosity took over.—
Ashley Vega,
People.com,
18 May 2025
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The life of Pope Leo shows that one’s identity and loyalties are shaped by experience, and Leo’s experience is one with deep roots outside of the U.S., closeness to the cry of the poor, and the clear conviction that the best way to lead is through service rather than raw power and fear.—
Raúl E. Zegarra,
Time,
17 May 2025
Noun
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The complaint says a 58-year-old woman showed up at AdventHealth TimberRidge ER in Ocala with chills, fever and numbness in her hands and face.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
18 May 2025
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According to the complaint, the water district and county have rejected Kenny’s legal claims, which typically precede a lawsuit against a government agency and give both parties a chance to settle the allegations themselves before going to court.—
Luke Harold,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 May 2025
Verb
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Downstairs on the fairy-tale terrace, over an exorbitant Scottish cheese board, her mother and husband and sister were all screaming at one another.—
Patricia Lockwood,
New Yorker,
18 May 2025
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Videos posted to social media appear to show the mast of the ship crashing into the bridge just before 8:30 p.m., as passengers and nearby onlookers screamed, prompting an immediate search and rescue operation on the East River for the injured and overboard passengers.—
Alexandra Koch , Alexis McAdams , CB Cotton , Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2025
Noun
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Studio Nicholas Venezia In Janáček’s Quartet No. 1, the Takács ratcheted up the genre’s conversational quality into high drama, widening the expressive gulf between the opening lamentation and the skittering response.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
2 May 2025
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Biblical-style lamentations over Israel’s final corruption have been a staple of the state’s critics and die-hard anti-Zionists for 70 years.—
Martin Kramer,
Foreign Affairs,
8 June 2016
Cite this Entry
“Moan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moan. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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