as in cries
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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sobs
Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2026
The recording of the call is harrowing and gut-wrenching as Denise Lee sobs and begs for her life.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
There are a few inarticulate screams and sobs but no dialogue, no lyrics, no spoken intro, no utterances at all.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 11 Feb. 2026
The series ends as Eddie goes into Jamie's bedroom, sobs into the comforter and holds his teddy bear.
—Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 11 Jan. 2026
Her mom, Andrea Swift, can be seen handing her a tissue as Swift hangs her head and sobs.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Dec. 2025
Or when one of their sons, after rifling through Dad’s joke folder, quietly sobs at what he’s found.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2025
Advertisement One veteran, Matty Roberts visibly sobs.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 3 Nov. 2025
Darcey sobs as Georgi continues to defend himself for not easily opening up to others.
—Abigail Adams, People.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Verb
The glow of hundreds of candles illuminated somber faces, sobs often cutting through the silence in the crisp spring air.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2026
The recording of the call is harrowing and gut-wrenching as Denise Lee sobs and begs for her life.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
There are a few inarticulate screams and sobs but no dialogue, no lyrics, no spoken intro, no utterances at all.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 11 Feb. 2026
The series ends as Eddie goes into Jamie's bedroom, sobs into the comforter and holds his teddy bear.
—Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 11 Jan. 2026
Her mom, Andrea Swift, can be seen handing her a tissue as Swift hangs her head and sobs.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Dec. 2025
Or when one of their sons, after rifling through Dad’s joke folder, quietly sobs at what he’s found.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2025
Advertisement One veteran, Matty Roberts visibly sobs.
—Olivia B. Waxman, Time, 3 Nov. 2025
Darcey sobs as Georgi continues to defend himself for not easily opening up to others.
—Abigail Adams, People.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sobs
Verb
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By the beginning of the second episode, Margo has dropped out of school and is the totally broke single mother to a colicky baby, Bodhi, who cries so committedly that two of Margo’s roommates move out.—
Sophie Gilbert,
The Atlantic,
23 Apr. 2026
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In the spot, Shane sits in a middle seat next to a chatty flier while a baby cries in the background.—
Chiara Kim,
PEOPLE,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
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McEntire, Stefani and Legend were brought to tears by Carter's emotional performance.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
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Tatum also knows the value of peer support after leaning on players like Tyrese Haliburton, Damian Lillard and Dejounte Murray — all of whom suffered Achilles tears last season — during his recovery.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Swiss skier Melanie Meillard weeps in the arms of her teammate Janine Schmitt after missing a turn on her slalom run Women’s Team Combined Slalom.—
Staff Photographer,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
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Cannon weeps into an expansive white space that only she and Trish inhabit.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
17 Dec. 2025
Noun
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All these moments are good for audience groans and there’s an enjoyable bad movie here for the seizing — that is when Cronin isn’t steering the action back to Egypt for an underpowered mystery thread involving a one-dimensional Cairo detective (May Calamawy) pursuing the root of the trouble.—
Joshua Rothkopf,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
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The trailer had plenty of groans, gasps and even a few tears as Knoxville and the crew put their bodies on the line to say goodbye.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sobs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sobs. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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