1
as in cry
a crying out in grief
a prolonged wail arose from every corner of the city as the victims of the earthquake were unearthed from the rubble
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in groan
a long low sound indicating pain or grief
rescuers heard a faint wail coming from the pile of rubble, a sure sign that one of the victims was still alive
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in whine
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment
a transit fare increase that is sure to bring wails from the straphangers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to complain
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
the state's residents are always wailing about their high taxes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in to groan
to utter a moan
the patient lay in her bed, occasionally softly wailing in pain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 wail
Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
There was grit and grime to his feedback-heavy guitar wails, but there was sweep and grandeur too, more apparent on stage than on record.
—Piet Levy, jsonline.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Jeff Miller, Rolling Stone, 11 Apr. 2026
According to the post, the officer approached the gate, asked what was going on, and stood watching as the husky wailed.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wail
Noun
And from the stage, the unmistakable wail of a harmonica cut through the warm April air.
—Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
There was grit and grime to his feedback-heavy guitar wails, but there was sweep and grandeur too, more apparent on stage than on record.
—Piet Levy, jsonline.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Verb
Songs aside, the true reason to pack into the Mojave tent was to watch one of the great guitar heroes skronk and wail throughout, whopping unexpected breaks and whoop-ready vocals with an aplomb that both feels careless and entirely cathartic.
—Jeff Miller, Rolling Stone, 11 Apr. 2026
According to the post, the officer approached the gate, asked what was going on, and stood watching as the husky wailed.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wail
Noun
-
That name has since become synonymous with the defense of one’s territory, and a rallying cry.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
7 May 2026
-
The trail eventually tilts back down toward the city, where car honks and train horns replace the cries of birds and insects.—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Still, the film has its rewards, mostly of the unsophisticated kind, since the fight sequences come fast and furious and the cheesy dialogue has enough groan-worthy one-liners to inspire a thousand drinking games.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
6 May 2026
-
But Paul Reiser still brings the perfect energy to the role, landing even the groan-worthy lines.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Both motors stay at or below 45 dBA even at full power, something that will genuinely surprise anyone used to the whine of current-generation motors.—
Omar Kardoudi
April 10,
New Atlas,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The whine from that straight-cut gearbox alone is painfully loud, say nothing of the wide-open exhaust on the 4.0 L flat-six.—
Tim Stevens,
ArsTechnica,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Landlords also complained some tenants took advantage of the moratorium to live rent free.—
Michael Casey,
Fortune,
3 May 2026
-
Local Republicans including unsuccessful mayoral candidate Sharon Beloin-Saavedra urged angry parents to turn out at a council meeting to complain, and there have been extensive Facebook discussions condemning the city budget.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
What could be a better way to blow off some grief than turning up the amps and howling out more Kimbrough deep cuts?—
Grayson Haver Currin,
Pitchfork,
7 May 2026
-
Richard howled obscenities at three officers who were talking to him through the locked door.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Coach Arne Slot moaned about VAR but his problems lie much closer to home.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
-
The score by Joseph Bishara is shivery with chorales that moan like wraiths in the wind.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
30 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
Noun
-
The latest in the growing Bachelor Nation–to–Bravo pipeline, this former crying virgin hasn’t done much crying and certainly is done virgining.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
-
The audio included crying, screaming and banging, prompting jurors to sob and appear visibly shaken.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wail. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
