Synonyms of sob

sob 1 of 2

verb

ˈsäb 

as in to cry

to shed tears often while making meaningless sounds as a sign of pain or distress

the child sobbed when she found the dead frog

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cry
• weep
• scream
• bawl
• grieve
• blub
• blubber
• whimper
• whine
• mourn
• groan
• lament
• sniffle
• moan
• sigh
• howl
• wail
• squall
• greet
• snivel
• mewl
• keen
• bleat
• yowl
• pule

sob

2 of 2

noun

as in tears

Related Words

• tears
• cry
• groan
• wail
• lamentation
• weeping
• moan
• howl
• suffering
• mourning
• lament
• plaint
• keen
• regret
• sorrowing
• grieving
• protest
• sorrow
• outcry
• agonizing
• grief
• anguish
• hand-wringing
• heartbreak
• woe
• heartache
• complaint
• cri de coeur
• dolor

Dissimilar Words

• rejoicing
• exultation
• smiling
• laughing
• cheering

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of sob

Verb

Also last week, court was paused several times as Clancy sobbed while witnesses from the medical examiner's office were on the stand. — Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026

After the conversation, Gajdusek drove down the highway, sobbing. — Rachel Aviv, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026

Noun

One juror burst into loud sobs after a detective displayed three plastic pots that had held Jimmy‘s remains. — Amy Driscoll, Miami Herald, 3 May 2026

Yet there’s surprisingly little scientific research on the matter, leaving the question of whether there are actually emotional benefits to a nice sob session. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 2 Apr. 2026