1
as in groans
a long low sound indicating pain or grief
she uttered an agonized moan and clutched her stomach
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wails
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in whines
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in cries
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 complains
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
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Recent Examples of moans
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
The song eventually escalates into a lecherous, breathless, glittering climax of incandescent synthesizers and melodic moans—an erotic asphyxiation depicted as utterly glorious.
—Literary Hub, 14 Jan. 2026
Two microphones angle towards the duduk to capture resonant moans, creaks, squeaks and honks akin to the bridge’s.
—Ruby Rosenthal, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
Most of these are held in a tent, from which loud, ecstatic moans can be heard for seemingly miles around.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2025
Deeper into Cardoso’s forest, brown howler monkeys fill the viscous air with their guttural moans.
—Mark Johanson, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2022
Kevin McKeough, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 2026
As the video continues, one person can be heard yelling her name while the makeup artist moans in pain.
—Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 21 May 2026
The Freight House building creaks and moans underfoot, and passing trains produce little more than a subtle hum.
—Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
Back in the car, Albert moans and groans while Billie shrieks in panic.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Feb. 2026
Passersby hear its shrieks and moans from the road.
—Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 17 Feb. 2026
Fennell begins on a black screen and the sound of creaks and moans.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Shannon moans right about the time Jenn walks out to see what the commotion is all about.
—Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 10 Oct. 2025
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
The song eventually escalates into a lecherous, breathless, glittering climax of incandescent synthesizers and melodic moans—an erotic asphyxiation depicted as utterly glorious.
—Literary Hub, 14 Jan. 2026
Two microphones angle towards the duduk to capture resonant moans, creaks, squeaks and honks akin to the bridge’s.
—Ruby Rosenthal, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
Most of these are held in a tent, from which loud, ecstatic moans can be heard for seemingly miles around.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2025
Deeper into Cardoso’s forest, brown howler monkeys fill the viscous air with their guttural moans.
—Mark Johanson, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2022
Verb
Musselwhite punctuated the music with his harmonica trills and moans while his right knee bounced in time with the rhythms.
—Kevin McKeough, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 2026
As the video continues, one person can be heard yelling her name while the makeup artist moans in pain.
—Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 21 May 2026
The Freight House building creaks and moans underfoot, and passing trains produce little more than a subtle hum.
—Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
Back in the car, Albert moans and groans while Billie shrieks in panic.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Feb. 2026
Passersby hear its shrieks and moans from the road.
—Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 17 Feb. 2026
Fennell begins on a black screen and the sound of creaks and moans.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Shannon moans right about the time Jenn walks out to see what the commotion is all about.
—Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moans
Noun
-
The crowd immediately let out a mix of laughter and groans as Mathews tried to swap his plate for the one in front of Bertinelli.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Dec. 2025
-
But neither one of them feels quite so threatening to the top two — and so likely to elicit groans from the peanut gallery — as Hamnet.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The ear-splitting wails came from a little girl trying to get the star’s attention.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
3 Dec. 2025
-
People judge others for the precise pitch of their wails.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
1 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
More complaints, from at home and abroad, will likely come.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
11 June 2026
-
The complaints also allege that sparking or downed power lines exacerbated the inferno.—
Tony Saavedra,
Daily News,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
But today nobody complains about the cost of his castles.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
8 June 2026
-
But Haltbrekken complains that the government has no way to stop overconstruction from eroding Norway’s strategic energy reserves.—
Story
by
Billy Perrigo,
Time,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Unlike standard eye drops that get washed away by tears within minutes, living eye drops use bacteria that colonize the eye and continuously release therapeutic proteins after a single application.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
-
Brownlee got the chance to sing with Minaj, which had the audience in tears.—
Gina Kalsi,
PEOPLE,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
As the puppy lets out another barrage of whimpers, the kitten then looks directly at the camera, as if wondering casually what's going on.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Well, a University of Texas at Arlington researcher is aiming to turn barks, howls and whimpers of man’s best friend into intelligible speech — a kind of Rosetta Stone of woof.—
Miriam Fauzia,
Boston Herald,
12 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Something that screams self-care at home would also be appreciated, like 54 Thrones Auntie’s Know Best Holiday Bundle that includes a Butter Cream Body Wash, Barrier Repair Cloud Cream and African Beauty Butter.—
Samantha Mims,
Essence,
10 Dec. 2025
-
The data screams what employees already whisper to one another in hallways and private chats.—
Jon Rosemberg,
Fortune,
9 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Russia celebrates, Ukraine cries, and the United States of America is diminished.—
Tom Zirpoli,
Baltimore Sun,
19 Aug. 2025
-
Or in the cries of that newborn child?—
Ed Simon
August 18,
Literary Hub,
18 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Moans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moans. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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