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moan 1 of 2

noun

ˈmōn How to pronounce moan (audio)
Definition of moannext
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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moan

2 of 2

verb

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

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 moan
Noun
Musselwhite punctuated the music with his harmonica trills and moans while his right knee bounced in time with the rhythms. — Kevin McKeough, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 2026 The child’s eyes were swollen and milky, their mouth agape in a silent moan. — Taran Dugal, New Yorker, 23 May 2026
Verb
After the guards left, the man continued to moan; his cellmates called for a doctor. — Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026 As school starts again, some kids will moan and groan to their parents about the end of summer. — Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for moan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moan
  1. groan
  2. wail
  3. whine
  4. complain
  5. crying
  6. cry
  7. complaint
  8. scream
Noun
  • The company’s presentation was punctuated by boos and groans from hundreds of Chinatown, Bridgeport and Armour Square residents.
    — Brian J. Rogal, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026
  • There were times in the second half when boos and plenty of groans were heard inside Old Trafford.
    — Chris McKenna, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of groan
Noun
  • Feverish with feeling, the women scream, wail and sob, each one experiencing her misery multiply in real time as the remaining two look on in disdain.
    — Natalia Winkelman, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Geddy Lee, Rush No bassist’s singing voice has ever created a more pronounced contrast with his instrument than Rush’s Geddy Lee, who moved the piercing wail of influences like Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant up another octave.
    — Al Shipley, SPIN, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of wail
Noun
  • The mystic whine of Christine Ott and Mathieu Gabry’s score carries us into a hidden world of ancient Thai deities living inside the mountain’s caves and tunnels.
    — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Meanwhile, turbo noise fills the cabin alongside the odd electric motor whine.
    — Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of whine
Verb
  • Many advocates and lawmakers have complained that the system updates too slowly and contains too much inaccurate or missing information, allowing ICE to shield the locations of detainees for days or weeks.
    — Ryan J. Foley, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026
  • China is demanding the US ease export bans on high-tech goods, like chipmaking gear; the US bitterly complains about Chinese overproduction and transhipment.
    — Andy Browne, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of complain
Noun
  • At home after her middle school let out on April 17, 2024, Nora’s daughter came to her crying and shaking.
    — Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The crying can become the dominant thing, and the acting is the crying as opposed to being able to convey a personality underneath all of that, being able to find the nuance of who this character is outside of the crying.
    — Brande Victorian, HollywoodReporter, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of crying
Noun
  • Lacking life detection equipment, the workers strained to hear their cries.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The anticipation builds until the silence is pierced by the curling cry of the ancient instrument.
    — Ben Corn, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of cry
Noun
  • The final result was visually awkward and earned so many complaints on social media that McLendon-Covey even weighed in at the time.
    — Zack Sharf, Variety, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The initial complaint, filed in May 2025, also included false imprisonment and conversion as causes of action, which are not included in the latest complaint.
    — Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of complaint
Verb
  • The payoff to that trick leaves Kumail and Gianmarco screaming, first in thrilled disbelief at what Jake pulls off, then in frustration at Maria’s vote.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Instead, Williams screamed out in pain and could not carry himself off the field.
    — Marissa Sulek, CBS News, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of scream

Browse Nearby Words

mizzly
moan
moaned
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Cite this Entry

“Moan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moan. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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