as in crying
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as in blubbering
to shed tears often while making meaningless sounds as a sign of pain or distress
the child sobbed when she found the dead frog
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sobbing
Tevon Blair, Essence, 28 Jan. 2026
Then, in the first quarter, Haliburton fell to the court just beyond the three, banging his fist and sobbing.
—Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 20 Dec. 2025
Whether wasted out of her mind after Hedda Gabler (Tessa Thompson) coaxes Hoss’ imperious literature professor off the wagon, or a sobbing, heaving wreck of herself when the pages of her latest book go missing at a 1950s mansion party.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 30 Nov. 2025
This show is equal parts feel-good and pass-me-the-tissues-because-I’m-sobbing.
—Nikki Sternberg, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2025
There are no scenes of her sobbing or breaking apart in rage.
—Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor, 16 Jan. 2025
Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
The guest who was with me wouldn’t stop sobbing.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 20 May 2026
On the last day of the trial Monday, both the prosecutor and public defender relied heavily on security videos from the upscale, outdoor mall in San Jose to make their case, including graphic images that left the family of the victim sobbing in the courtroom.
—Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 19 May 2026
Leah asked while sobbing in an interview.
—Anna Peele, Vanity Fair, 14 May 2026
Agreed, there’s incredible power in those close-ups of people singing and sobbing along with Eilish’s songs.
—Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
The thirty-something sobbing on the shoreline over another lost pregnancy.
—Literary Hub, 7 May 2026
Despite that, progressive pundits and Democratic politicians spent the week hyperventilating, and even sobbing, that the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965 was effectively gutted.
—Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 6 May 2026
Malik cried as some of her sobbing family members embraced her following the sentencing.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 5 May 2026
Noun
Homeland Security posted the original image of Armstrong’s arrest with another image being posted shortly after from the White House showing her sobbing.
—Tevon Blair, Essence, 28 Jan. 2026
Then, in the first quarter, Haliburton fell to the court just beyond the three, banging his fist and sobbing.
—Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 20 Dec. 2025
Whether wasted out of her mind after Hedda Gabler (Tessa Thompson) coaxes Hoss’ imperious literature professor off the wagon, or a sobbing, heaving wreck of herself when the pages of her latest book go missing at a 1950s mansion party.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 30 Nov. 2025
This show is equal parts feel-good and pass-me-the-tissues-because-I’m-sobbing.
—Nikki Sternberg, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2025
There are no scenes of her sobbing or breaking apart in rage.
—Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor, 16 Jan. 2025
Verb
Is Marie-Paule’s reaction—to throw herself, sobbing, to the ground—authentic, or more of a performance or a ritual?
—Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
The guest who was with me wouldn’t stop sobbing.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 20 May 2026
On the last day of the trial Monday, both the prosecutor and public defender relied heavily on security videos from the upscale, outdoor mall in San Jose to make their case, including graphic images that left the family of the victim sobbing in the courtroom.
—Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 19 May 2026
Leah asked while sobbing in an interview.
—Anna Peele, Vanity Fair, 14 May 2026
Agreed, there’s incredible power in those close-ups of people singing and sobbing along with Eilish’s songs.
—Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
The thirty-something sobbing on the shoreline over another lost pregnancy.
—Literary Hub, 7 May 2026
Despite that, progressive pundits and Democratic politicians spent the week hyperventilating, and even sobbing, that the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965 was effectively gutted.
—Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 6 May 2026
Malik cried as some of her sobbing family members embraced her following the sentencing.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 5 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sobbing
Adjective
-
But his crying scene in Ford v Ferrari is one for the ages.—
Michael Granberry,
Dallas News,
17 Jan. 2020
Noun
-
The scenes of security personnel forcibly removing weeping and resistant settlers deeply divided Israeli society.—
Shira Pinson,
NBC news,
17 May 2026
-
Purple Pixie® has a weeping habit, with vibrant purple foliage that flows from containers, adding color and movement to porch plantings all year long.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
Sitting opposite an old people’s home in a residential corner of Paris’ 14th arrondissement, La Santé’s unassuming presence is only given away by the occasional wailing siren as prisoners are transported to and from the site.—
Joseph Ataman,
CNN Money,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
After the particularly disturbing Game 3 loss, when the Avs lost for only the second time in 76 playoff games when leading by three goals, Colorado resorted to whimpering.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
27 May 2026
-
How to Watch North Carolina at Syracuse Bill Belichick’s first season as North Carolina head coach is winding to a whimpering close, but an ACC win over Syracuse under the Friday Night Lights would sure turn some frowns upside down at Chapel Hill.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
At low speeds through the town of Imola and villages beyond it, the most prominent sound is the whining of the rear differential.—
Tim Pitt,
Robb Report,
18 May 2026
-
That broader perspective may explain why Hamlin’s criticisms rarely sound like post-race whining.—
Greg Engle,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sobbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sobbing. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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