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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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
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
The dispatcher then asked who the woman was sobbing in the background.
—Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
Robert Wanner, the slain mother’s husband, arrived at the Granite Bay home with Carlie and found Ashley sobbing, strapped into a high chair with an unfinished supply of dry Cheerios in front of her.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Shortly after, his mother, whose face was blurred out and whose name was not disclosed in live coverage of the trial aired by NBCDFW, began sobbing.
—Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
Back in the kitchen, the Plums and Greens all huddle around a sobbing Miriam to offer their support.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Apr. 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
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
The dispatcher then asked who the woman was sobbing in the background.
—Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
Robert Wanner, the slain mother’s husband, arrived at the Granite Bay home with Carlie and found Ashley sobbing, strapped into a high chair with an unfinished supply of dry Cheerios in front of her.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Shortly after, his mother, whose face was blurred out and whose name was not disclosed in live coverage of the trial aired by NBCDFW, began sobbing.
—Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
Back in the kitchen, the Plums and Greens all huddle around a sobbing Miriam to offer their support.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Apr. 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
-
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
-
It’s been splendid watching the weeping and gnashing of teeth from American MAGA supporters.—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
17 Apr. 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
-
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
-
Tail wagging, happy whining, and excited greetings when your husband comes home tell me Eddie likes him.—
Cathy M. Rosenthal,
San Antonio Express-News,
26 Feb. 2026
-
No politics, no posturing, no whining, just winning.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
22 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sobbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sobbing. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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