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
Noel Murray, New York Times, 12 May 2025
The eyes start rolling and the moans come out when dudes get super gooned.
—Mikelle Street, Them., 6 May 2025
Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 5 Sep. 2025
Ellis could be heard moaning and could be seen lying on the ground.
—Elena Santa Cruz, AZCentral.com, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for moan
Noun
The smart zombies make the most upsetting noises, sounding like human moans.
—Noel Murray, New York Times, 12 May 2025
The eyes start rolling and the moans come out when dudes get super gooned.
—Mikelle Street, Them., 6 May 2025
Verb
Julia says, dropping to all fours and moaning amid a pile of straw on the floor.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 5 Sep. 2025
Ellis could be heard moaning and could be seen lying on the ground.
—Elena Santa Cruz, AZCentral.com, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for moan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moan
Noun
-
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
Noun
-
Yet beneath this veneer, the wail of sirens, the hurried stamp of feet into basements and the slam of shelter doors have become just as familiar.—
Sonal Nain,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
-
John Corigliano’s First Symphony, which Gustavo Dudamel and the New York Philharmonic presented early in the new season, begins with a blistering wail of orchestral rage.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The unfiltered electric soundtrack of the Evija goes from a piercing whine to an ear-splitting shriek.—
Tim Pitt,
Robb Report,
6 Aug. 2025
-
Moscow’s escalating air war and the distinctive whine of Shaheds is now forcing Ukrainians out of their beds and into shelters and metro stations on an almost-nightly basis.—
Clare Sebastian,
CNN Money,
25 July 2025
Verb
-
Some Russians already have complained about Max’s functionality (and mocked VK’s semi-cheesy, semi-effective enlistment of rappers, comedians, and influencers to promote it).—
Justin Sherman,
The Atlantic,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Don’t-complain, just-eat-your-meal type people.—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
That revelation—learning that uncontrollable crying wasn’t her personality but neurological damage—became another layer of self-compassion.—
Emily Cegielski,
Flow Space,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Beyond the firing of weapons, beyond the screaming and crying that comes with injuries and loss.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The rallying cry from Shakespeare’s Henry V, ahead of the Battle of Agincourt, might as well be the motto of today’s artificial intelligence elites.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
7 Oct. 2025
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The cries and coos Lydia and all the other Fairfield mothers made around her little sister made Catherine sick.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The report was released as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau received record high numbers of complaints about auto loans.—
Michael Wayland,
CNBC,
13 Oct. 2025
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The complaint cites just three examples of transgender athletes on girls’ teams in Maine, including the pole-vaulter.—
Emma Green,
New Yorker,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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At the slightest provocation, Ye bullies, hectors, and screams at everyone from Paris fashion-show lackeys to the mother of his child.—
Derek Robertson,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Oct. 2025
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For a company like Tesla, dumping the AM/FM radio to cut costs does not exactly scream innovation.—
Patrick George,
The Atlantic,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Moan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moan. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
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