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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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
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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
Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2025
Late in the film, Erivo has one particularly unforgettable moment of raw, wrenching despair, her wail of grief cutting right through the screen.
—Sezin Koehler, EW.com, 28 Feb. 2025
Lorraine Berry, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025
Within a week, a woman living on E. 130th St. reported hearing an infant wailing in an apartment occupied by a young widow, Carmela Marzano.
—Mara Bovsun, New York Daily News, 3 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for wail
Noun
Rachelle Wolf woke up Wednesday morning to the faint wail of sirens in Nevada, Missouri, and called her husband to alert him.
—Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2025
Late in the film, Erivo has one particularly unforgettable moment of raw, wrenching despair, her wail of grief cutting right through the screen.
—Sezin Koehler, EW.com, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
In dark times, the songs that will comfort us will not be the cacophony of individual voices wailing their grief.
—Lorraine Berry, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025
Within a week, a woman living on E. 130th St. reported hearing an infant wailing in an apartment occupied by a young widow, Carmela Marzano.
—Mara Bovsun, New York Daily News, 3 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for wail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wail
Noun
-
Whatever happened to the political left’s cry that no one is above the law?—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
24 June 2025
-
Police responded at about 9:30 p.m. June 5 to the cries of the woman near the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and 6th Street, the police statement said.—
Rong-Gong Lin II,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2025
Noun
-
Pretty soon, the whine of the gears, the shriek of the diff, and the sheer cacophony of combustion make conversation all but impossible.—
Tim Pitt,
Robb Report,
28 May 2025
-
Men clad in DayGlo vests and hardhats chatted as the whine of a flying cargo drone echoed through the valley.—
Ben Ayers,
Outside Online,
23 May 2025
Verb
-
His team-mates celebrated; the Boca players complained furiously, surrounding the referee and pointing at Marchesin.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
21 June 2025
-
Several commentors have defended Wong and her administration, but others have complained there’s a pattern of high-handedness at Bloomfield town hall.—
Don Stacom,
Hartford Courant,
20 June 2025
Verb
-
And in the middle of the room is Julia, not the Strokes frontman, howling into the mic as her rainbow necklace and furry tail flap against a green bikini top and skirt.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
25 June 2025
-
Burke said the caretaker only heard Kurt howling from another room.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 June 2025
Verb
-
The all-plastic body doesn’t creak or groan, and the display lid allows surprisingly little flex for a budget laptop.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
5 June 2025
-
Still nothing from Bernie, but then Randall hears it - an unmistakable mesh of gurgling, groaning, and whimpering that suggests someone is in dire trouble.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
28 May 2025
Noun
-
Suffice to say, the 2025 Cannes market will be filled with even more groans on moans than years past.—
Elsa Ramo,
Forbes.com,
6 May 2025
-
There's a push, and suddenly, a newborn's first cry replaces the mother's moans.—
Laura Gómez,
Scientific American,
26 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
This is a lament for something that is out of reach, almost strange to the narrator.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
17 June 2025
-
Instead, Nick takes a seat next to Joseph and laments not listening to June, who told him so long ago to quit all this.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
20 May 2025
Verb
-
The Pacers' star went down and immediately screamed in pain.—
Matt Levine,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 June 2025
-
White Zinnias These hardy flowers from Mexico have had my heart for years; their bold colors simply scream summer.—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
21 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wail. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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