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
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sobs
Zoe Papelis, Vulture, 27 Apr. 2026
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
Verb
Cassie, who doesn’t seem very concerned about Nate, sobs on the floor in disbelief, covered in blood and shocked that someone could disrupt what should be the perfect end to her evening.
—Zoe Papelis, Vulture, 27 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sobs
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
Through your tears, see a brief, shimmering vision of What Might Have Been.—
Ian Frazier,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
My eyes, raw and stinging, now filled with their own salty tears.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Cannon weeps into an expansive white space that only she and Trish inhabit.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
17 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Simmons became a star when groans were the franchise soundtrack.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Kimmel’s joke was met with an almost even number of laughs and groans, but little did anyone know that two days later at the actual WHCD there would be a shooting that derailed the entire night.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sobs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sobs. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
