as in crying
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1
as in groaning
to utter a moan
he moaned and cried for days after his dog, his only companion, died
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in complaining
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
their son moaned whenever anyone asked him to do some work
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of moaning
Tim Spiers, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
While lying on the pavement, he could be heard moaning as an officer shouted at him not to move.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 13 Dec. 2025
There’s something moaning in the background.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2025
The deputies ultimately roll him over before putting on handcuffs as Mull can be heard moaning in pain.
—Nathaniel Percy, Oc Register, 26 Sep. 2025
The recognizable munchies didn't stop the cast members from moaning, groaning and throwing up as usual.
—Breanne L. Heldman, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025
In one of the videos, she's seen rinsing her eye in a hospital sink, while moaning from the discomfort.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Sep. 2025
Julia says, dropping to all fours and moaning amid a pile of straw on the floor.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 5 Sep. 2025
The patient is actually a training dummy that instructors can manipulate into yelling, moaning, retching, suffering blood pressure spikes, heart attacks and other medical emergencies.
—Beth Warren, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
Verb
While Slot was moaning about having to play two away matches in four days (and about missing a couple of key players), Emery, also without important figures such as Boubacar Kamara, was overseeing his Villa side playing the same tough schedule and win both games without conceding a goal.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
While lying on the pavement, he could be heard moaning as an officer shouted at him not to move.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 13 Dec. 2025
There’s something moaning in the background.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2025
The deputies ultimately roll him over before putting on handcuffs as Mull can be heard moaning in pain.
—Nathaniel Percy, Oc Register, 26 Sep. 2025
The recognizable munchies didn't stop the cast members from moaning, groaning and throwing up as usual.
—Breanne L. Heldman, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025
In one of the videos, she's seen rinsing her eye in a hospital sink, while moaning from the discomfort.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Sep. 2025
Julia says, dropping to all fours and moaning amid a pile of straw on the floor.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 5 Sep. 2025
The patient is actually a training dummy that instructors can manipulate into yelling, moaning, retching, suffering blood pressure spikes, heart attacks and other medical emergencies.
—Beth Warren, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moaning
Adjective
-
But his crying scene in Ford v Ferrari is one for the ages.—
Michael Granberry,
Dallas News,
17 Jan. 2020
Verb
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When dinner was served, some of the highest flyers of Chicago were laid low, falling to the floor, groaning in agony and vomiting.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
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The branches of that tree hanging over your home are groaning and creaking, tossed against each other like so many toothpicks.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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More recently, a project to construct community hubs for each of Harvey’s six wards has been in limbo, with residents complaining about the blight created by the unfinished construction sites at the most recent City Council meeting.—
Evy Lewis,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
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Everybody’s complaining about somebody.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The City of Aurora, Illinois, is touting a howling success.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
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With relentless howling wind making up much of the soundtrack, The Turin Horse was a chilling, enigmatic stunner that played like a metaphor for the apocalypse.—
Tim Grierson,
Rolling Stone,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The actor Marisa Abela plays her in a binary state of panic and swagger by sobbing like a dejected child or slyly grinning like one who’s about to wolf down an ice-cream cake.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
2 Mar. 2026
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The paramedics arrived on scene, reassuring the huddled, sobbing mess of Mom and us children that all would be okay.—
Des Moines Register,
Des Moines Register,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Something changed, though, because the next morning, Van Lent and Eikenberg entered into a screaming match in Naja’s office for everyone to see.—
Michael Adno,
Rolling Stone,
3 Mar. 2026
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In a post on Monday, the rescue said Denali has been screaming in pain and doesn't want to eat or get up.—
Madeline Bartos,
CBS News,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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With price pressures still bubbling in ways that have made consumers unhappy about affordability, economists are closely monitoring the impact of higher energy prices.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
2 Mar. 2026
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Unions, which were unhappy with the prospect of any industry consolidation may give Paramount a hard time and may not want to play ball.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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After months and months of ceaseless whining about the doxxing of ICE agents, there hasn’t been a single peep from Attorney General Pam Bondi about the future of facial recognition in Meta glasses.—
Sarah Jeong,
The Verge,
1 Mar. 2026
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Extra points are awarded here to families who avoid any whining about this.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Moaning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moaning. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
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