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
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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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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
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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
Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
But their loud wail, which can be activated via a mobile app, can be heard about half a mile away.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
On Thursday, sirens wailed and loud explosions were heard shortly after midnight in Jerusalem and other parts of Israel.
—ABC News, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wail
Noun
The Israeli military and the Home Front Command have increasingly sought to communicate the danger of these bomblets to the Israeli public, urging people to remain in shelters for several minutes after the wail of the sirens has faded, until the all-clear is given.
—Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
But their loud wail, which can be activated via a mobile app, can be heard about half a mile away.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
Tel Aviv, Israel — Specks of orange light streak across the night sky as air raid sirens wail in the background.
—Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
On Thursday, sirens wailed and loud explosions were heard shortly after midnight in Jerusalem and other parts of Israel.
—ABC News, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wail
Noun
-
Sean said the dogs knocked his mother to the ground and continued attacking her as a passerby, who heard her cries from about a block away, rushed over on a bicycle to help.—
Angelique Brenes,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Amazingly, there didn’t seem to be a single boo or any cries of dissent.—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
That comment elicited an involuntary groan from the boy’s father, Dalvin Driver, who was in court.—
Clifford Ward,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
-
But on a Sunday morning in July 1595, the groan of the heavy wooden door startled him from his gesticulations.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Village sounds of chickens and goats were pierced by the distant whine of commercial jets climbing out of Agadir’s international airport.—
Kevin West,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Mar. 2026
-
No suspicious whine in the air, no burning of pungent oils to put off biters.—
Antonia Quirke,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
An employee reached out to Summers and Taylor to complain.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Coaches Dawn Staley of South Carolina and Geno Auriemma of UConn had a heated courtside exchange afterward as Auriemma, in character, complained about the officiating and proved an ungracious loser, but at least apologized a day later.—
Greg Cote
April 5,
Miami Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Elsewhere, Paula Rego’s two self portraits from 2017 show the artist howling through expressive pastel strokes.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
2 Apr. 2026
-
After his partners had been gone a few minutes, the big gray wolf openly ran to within 100 yards of the caribou, sat down in plain sight, and started to howl.—
Frank Glaser,
Outdoor Life,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
On the British side of the Pond, however, no government has dared to do worse things to the BBC than moan about it.—
Max Hastings,
Twin Cities,
5 Apr. 2026
-
On the British side of the Pond, however, no government has dared to do worse things to the BBC than moan about it.—
Max Hastings,
Mercury News,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
During the show’s second hour, Guthrie went outside to thank the crowd and briefly held back tears.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
6 Apr. 2026
-
As immigration officers arrested her six weeks ago, through tears and a rushed goodbye, Maria de Jesus Estrada Juarez had a request for her daughter.—
Mathew Miranda,
Sacbee.com,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Her daughter raced home crying and her parents promptly reported the incident to Sacramento police that night.—
Ashley Sharp,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Mamoudou, what is the secret to good fake crying?—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wail. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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