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
Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Those harsh, swelling wails of warning become the film’s punctuating sonic motif — in stark contrast to the buoyant, babbling vocal interjections of Alexey Shmurak’s unexpected a cappella score, a literal chorus of humanity amid the chaos.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 20 Feb. 2025
Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 13 Mar. 2025
He’s got his wizardly role down to a science, wailing each of his biting one-liners with crisp economy.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wail
Noun
The wail of sirens echoed through Marysville on Thursday morning as hundreds lined D Street to honor a fallen officer — the first Marysville police officer killed in the line of duty in more than a century — whose body was ushered to a Placer County funeral home.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 27 Mar. 2025
Those harsh, swelling wails of warning become the film’s punctuating sonic motif — in stark contrast to the buoyant, babbling vocal interjections of Alexey Shmurak’s unexpected a cappella score, a literal chorus of humanity amid the chaos.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 20 Feb. 2025
Verb
About an hour after the killing, the victim’s girlfriend was wailing uncontrollably at the murder scene, witnesses said.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 13 Mar. 2025
He’s got his wizardly role down to a science, wailing each of his biting one-liners with crisp economy.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wail
Noun
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In any case, despite critics’ cries of greenwashing and corporate astroturfing, there is still value to these devices.—
Kat Merck,
Wired News,
22 Apr. 2025
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This tender and slow hour isn’t for the restless, but a cathartic cry waits for those who make it to the end.—
Christian Holub,
EW.com,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The motor produces a whine that is noticeable but not distracting.—
William Roberson,
Forbes,
17 Mar. 2025
-
Israel Hernandez heard the faint whine of sirens outside his Wilmington apartment and looked up just in time to see a minivan crash into another vehicle as police gave chase.—
Libor Jany,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2025
Verb
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In another email to Instagram leaders in 2017, Systrom complained that Instagram got no new headcount despite a wide investment to grow the company’s video ambitions.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
22 Apr. 2025
-
Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins complained to public broadcaster Radio New Zealand that the bill is only meant to grab attention.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The crowd of 60 howled through most of the evening.—
R. Daniel Foster,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
-
The girl howled, writhing in a dark puddle on the ground.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The audience groaned upon hearing about Jelly's bothersome habit.—
Marina Watts,
People.com,
18 Apr. 2025
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When the first two rounds of 10% tariffs hit, Zou Guoqing, a Chinese exporter, groaned but didn't find the barriers insurmountable.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
And there, like an old friend, is Cronenberg’s regular composer Howard Shore with a synth moan to keep the mood unnerving.—
Robert Abele,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Apr. 2025
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The audience thought his moans were all part of the act.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Deeply layered and emotionally charged, the work reads like a visual lament, for what’s been lost, what still remains, and the unresolved stories that continue to flow beneath the surface.—
Nel-Olivia Waga,
Forbes.com,
17 Apr. 2025
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Unfortunately, Curl laments they’re destined for the donation bin.—
Cori Sears,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The audience screamed in approval for the coming out, as seen in a TikTok from the show.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them.,
24 Apr. 2025
-
During his mock intervention with Jason and Danny, Jax says that his father was always yelling and screaming, so was his grandfather.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
23 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wail. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
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