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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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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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of wail
Seth Harp, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Were his character more precisely defined, Battle’s wail of feeling might carry you past the awkwardness of the songwriting, the nagging questions about what’s meant to be translucent or not, but here both character and emotion are indistinct.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025
Paredones laid down thumping cumbia bass lines as Adolfo Mercado, often compared to Animal of The Muppets, wailed on the drums.
—Ivan Kashinsky, NPR, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wail
Noun
Low, ominous bass riffs giving way to a distorted wail of electric guitar signaled that this was the juncture in American history when the gloves came off and the real ass-kicking began.
—Seth Harp, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Were his character more precisely defined, Battle’s wail of feeling might carry you past the awkwardness of the songwriting, the nagging questions about what’s meant to be translucent or not, but here both character and emotion are indistinct.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
Snake Mom in the Sky, hand me a grimoire that will replace the urge to wail.
—Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025
Paredones laid down thumping cumbia bass lines as Adolfo Mercado, often compared to Animal of The Muppets, wailed on the drums.
—Ivan Kashinsky, NPR, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wail
Noun
-
There’s going to be a lot of oohs and aahs and cries and laughs and love.—
Kirsten Chuba,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Women from the village, who were down washing clothes in the river, heard the cries and rallied the community to help, Dumasá said.—
Daniel Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The room responded with playful groans.—
Haley Kluge,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
-
More than one person fell victim to wayward gourds that careened down Midland Road to the cheers and groans of an eager audience.—
Daniel McFadin,
Arkansas Online,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Deciphering the vocalizations involves both sound and context, as a dog’s bark or whine may be tied to its situation, Zhu said.—
Miriam Fauzia,
Boston Herald,
12 Oct. 2025
-
The unfiltered electric soundtrack of the Evija goes from a piercing whine to an ear-splitting shriek.—
Tim Pitt,
Robb Report,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
In recent years, staff have complained of poor working conditions brought on by overcrowding, despite director Laurence des Cars’s 2023 move to cap attendance at 30,000 visitors daily, accompanied by a ticket price increase.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Later that day, the parents of other dancers and talent-show participants complained that my afro had covered up their kids on-screen.—
Questlove,
The Atlantic,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Wanting to mimic the sounds, Takk began howling.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
-
And Democrats have howled at Republicans twice using a partisan maneuver to claw back funds that were previously approved on a bipartisan basis.—
Mike Lillis,
The Hill,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Shannon moans right about the time Jenn walks out to see what the commotion is all about.—
Peter Larsen,
Oc Register,
10 Oct. 2025
-
There’s something moaning in the background.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Kylie said that her kids’ excitement during this most recent trip has brought her to tears.—
Rachel McRady,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Her husband and three daughters, standing behind her, wiped tears from their cheeks.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The artwork depicted a crying boy, emotional over a lack of social media attention.—
Gabriele Regalbuto,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Her dad, Mark, 54, commented with praying, broken heart and crying emojis.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wail. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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