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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of moan
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
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
The stuff with a load of people wearing wigs moaning about taxes just isn’t seen as very glamorous.
—
Sean Woods,
Rolling Stone,
25 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for moan
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
Verb
The process left Carruthers bleeding and moaning on May 21, according to the witness, Maria DeLiberato, senior counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union's Capital Punishment Project.
—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
The stuff with a load of people wearing wigs moaning about taxes just isn’t seen as very glamorous.
—
Sean Woods,
Rolling Stone,
25 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for moan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moan
Noun
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When his attempt to force a second playoff hole rolled just left, the hundreds who gathered around the green were stunned, letting out a collective groan of disbelief.
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Out comes a guttural groan, her exertion a tight whip cracking open a black hole of pain.
Noun
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After a second of consideration, Naim slams the grate shut to the monster’s wails, and the audience’s relief.
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Three species of bats inhabit the site, and supernatural events—including the appearance of the gamekeeper’s ghost and the wail of a banshee—have been reported.
Noun
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That is, until you are subjected to the relentless whine of mosquitoes.
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Test recordings sounded clear and full, and the noise cancellation completely blocked out the buzz and whine of my 3D printer.
Verb
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Even Hakimi didn't complain, instead giving van de Ven a dap of respect.
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The document complains about trade, customs officers, juryless courts, and judges’ salaries.
Noun
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After Messi and his team's loss to Saudi Arabia in November 2022, the athlete told reporters, per The Mirror, that Mateo left the stadium crying.
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This is not the kid-crying, shoulder-to-shoulder type of resort; outside of newer guests, there are families who have been coming here for years and understand the groove of it all, from toddlers to teenagers.
Noun
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For some, the good news started with a whisper — or a baby’s cry.
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Such efforts at avoidance would lead to cries to apply payroll taxes to non-salary incomes such as dividends.
Noun
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The air district is still encouraging residents to report odors to its online complaint system or by calling (800) 288-7664.
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The dietitian thought there might be a correlation, according to an internal Abbott summary of the complaint shown during Colombo’s deposition.
Verb
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Police said that after the girl screamed, the video shows a man getting into his vehicle and driving away.
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The couple’s relationship began with a friendship bracelet and a podcast shout-out in July 2023, and by September Swift was screaming profanities in support of her new favorite football player.
Cite this Entry
“Moan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moan. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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