1
as in groaned
to utter a moan
he moaned and cried for days after his dog, his only companion, died
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in complained
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
their son moaned whenever anyone asked him to do some work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 moaned
Critics moaned when the CFP committee picked the Hurricanes over Notre Dame as the last Power 4 entry into the playoffs.
—
Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2026
Strapped to a stretcher in the back of an ambulance, the shooting victim moaned, then screamed.
—Lauren Caruba, Dallas Morning News, 2 Jan. 2026
From the other room, the victim moaned.
—Stephanie Kuzydym, The Courier-Journal, 15 Aug. 2025
Yankees fans have moaned and groaned about Aaron Boone’s deployment of Williams in crucial situations this season, and it’s only exacerbated now that every game counts in the postseason race.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2025
Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2026
Strapped to a stretcher in the back of an ambulance, the shooting victim moaned, then screamed.
—Lauren Caruba, Dallas Morning News, 2 Jan. 2026
From the other room, the victim moaned.
—Stephanie Kuzydym, The Courier-Journal, 15 Aug. 2025
Yankees fans have moaned and groaned about Aaron Boone’s deployment of Williams in crucial situations this season, and it’s only exacerbated now that every game counts in the postseason race.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moaned
Verb
-
Though the ballot measure also didn’t say the state needed to provide all of that money at once, lawmakers were already bracing for a budget shortfall last year and groaned under the strain of finding any more funding.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Everyone in the car groaned with disappointment.—
Marisa McMillan,
Outside,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
For years, people who lived just outside the urban center of Boca Raton complained to each other about the massive new buildings going up all around Palmetto Park Boulevard and Mizner Park, but these conversations always ended with the same sense of helplessness.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Mar. 2026
-
By 2015, the big three credit bureaus had become the most complained about firms in the agency’s complaint system.—
Joel Jacobs,
CNN Money,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Elena sobbed when her parents told her that the nanny wouldn’t be taking care of her anymore.—
Gerald Witt,
AJC.com,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Standing over the memorial that has grown to take up the length of a building, a man in a The North Face jacket sobbed quietly.—
Andrea Castillo,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Every cell in my body screamed yes, but my mind spiraled.—
Jennifer Wolfgram,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Masters screamed loudly several times in delight after winning the women's sprint sitting discipline in Para cross-country skiing on Tuesday at Milan Cortina in Italy.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
My older daughter has cried on and off but seems mostly unburdened in a way that only kids can.—
Nicole Frehsee Mazur,
Rolling Stone,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Helen wept quietly, believing her world had come to an end, while Alice, always comfortable with attention, cried more lustily.—
Charlotte Brooks,
Big Think,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The children jumped for joy after winning a game of cornhole; others fell and whined in defeat, but got up to play again.—
Christopher Buchanan,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Chip whined and nuzzled at my hand.—
Joel M. Vance,
Outdoor Life,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
As for one consistent complaint heard muttered amid bleary-eyed guests of the former Standard, Schrager confirms the appropriate adjustments have been made.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Nov. 2025
-
But the other 3%, often muttered by students prospectively examining transfer applications, is distinct.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Moaned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moaned. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
