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
-
Inside Chase Center, where there were more empty seats than usual, the crowd groaned.—
Evan Webeck,
Mercury News,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Audience members groaned at the pun.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
17 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
In response to the city clearing out the Cedar Avenue occupation, the activist organizations behind the blockades complained on social media about MPD officers dismantling three different roadblocks.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Labor unions have complained about a lack of communication over the state of the university’s budget.—
Jaweed Kaleem,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
When Gonzales was acquitted, bereaved family members silently sobbed while others were seen holding their faces and wiping tears.—
Matthew J. Friedman,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Capote sobbed on the flight back to New York, tightly clutching Fox’s hand.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Protesters screamed at agents, threw snowballs and tried to block their vehicles.—
Tim Sullivan,
Fortune,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Mostly, Connell said, the protesters just screamed at agents.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Victims and their supporters cried and hugged in the hallway while wearing yellow ribbons.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Through much of his playing career in Washington with the Wizards, Wall cried openly at public moments of joy and sorrow.—
David Aldridge,
New York Times,
27 Jan. 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 7 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
