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
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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
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3
as in whine
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment
a transit fare increase that is sure to bring wails from the straphangers
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1
as in to complain
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
the state's residents are always wailing about their high taxes
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2
3
as in to groan
to utter a moan
the patient lay in her bed, occasionally softly wailing in pain
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of wail
Byron Hurd, The Drive, 29 Apr. 2026
Mitchell has made the point before that every new technology brings wails that the fish won’t survive.
—Mike McFeely, Twin Cities, 24 Apr. 2026
Alex Ross, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
On Choute’s lap rode her Siamese cat, Vergère, who wailed throughout the journey.
—Literary Hub, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for wail
Noun
The resulting wail is certainly not kitten-like, sounding more like a cross between a sport bike and a completely uncorked race car.
—Byron Hurd, The Drive, 29 Apr. 2026
Mitchell has made the point before that every new technology brings wails that the fish won’t survive.
—Mike McFeely, Twin Cities, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
The final syllables accelerate into a blur, whereupon a ritual of wailing erupts.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
On Choute’s lap rode her Siamese cat, Vergère, who wailed throughout the journey.
—Literary Hub, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for wail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wail
Noun
-
The band members were surprised when fans unfurled a banner emblazoned with their lyrics, singing them as a rallying cry.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 June 2026
-
The following Story shows Emmy hooked up to various wires and tubes in the hospital as Morgan holds her in her arms and cries.—
Georgia Slater,
PEOPLE,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
Still, the night had enough laughs, groans and tender moments to keep things interesting.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
-
Now, at the same time that his stepmother is drawing groans, however, Hunter is winning unexpected praise.—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Test recordings sounded clear and full, and the noise cancellation completely blocked out the buzz and whine of my 3D printer.—
Will Greenwald,
PC Magazine,
14 June 2026
-
Lee's voice has always been Sui generis, a distinctive instrument caught between a whine and a yelp yet immediately recognizable.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Trump has frequently complained that Obama’s deal included the transport of cash from the US to Iran.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
15 June 2026
-
Plus, who can complain when the gorgeous Block Island — which, unlike Rhode Island, is actually an island — is described as New England’s Caribbean?—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
In an ideal world, progressives would have howled about how wrong that was, but progressives were the beneficiaries of Twitter’s malfeasance, so the company’s censorship was seen as acceptable, even desirable.—
Chris Roemer,
Baltimore Sun,
10 June 2026
-
With a pummelling rhythm and howling guitar, the new song from fata morgana makes a desperate race against the doom loop.—
Harry Tafoya,
Pitchfork,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Musselwhite punctuated the music with his harmonica trills and moans while his right knee bounced in time with the rhythms.—
Kevin McKeough,
Chicago Tribune,
7 June 2026
-
And yes, that sound will dissipate and soon will be too faint for my human ears as it is absorbed into space, but Renee Gladman writes that spaces moan.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Unlike standard eye drops that get washed away by tears within minutes, living eye drops use bacteria that colonize the eye and continuously release therapeutic proteins after a single application.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
-
Her husband Ve Bui accepted the honor, holding back tears.—
Darcel Rockett,
Chicago Tribune,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
She was taken by a suspect, leaving behind her 11-month-old daughter in a high chair, where she was later found crying and alone.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
10 June 2026
-
There’s no crying in baseball, but Kim Ng works in softball now.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wail. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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