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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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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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of wail
Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 30 May 2025
The driving force at the center of almost all the show’s best numbers is Webb’s voice, which is a marvelous instrument for this music, equally capable of delivering touching tenderness or a velvety wail of triumphant transcendence.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 15 May 2025
ArsTechnica, 20 July 2025
Weather warning sirens are installed outside on tall poles and make a loud wailing sound to warn people in the area when water levels rise, signaling an imminent flood.
—Rebecca Hersher, NPR, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for wail
Noun
After about seven minutes — and two more rounds of Narcan — the wail of sirens are finally heard.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 30 May 2025
The driving force at the center of almost all the show’s best numbers is Webb’s voice, which is a marvelous instrument for this music, equally capable of delivering touching tenderness or a velvety wail of triumphant transcendence.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 15 May 2025
Verb
Erik is separated from his parents, and the sight of his wailing mother being dragged away causes a distressed Erik to try to rejoin them.
—ArsTechnica, 20 July 2025
Weather warning sirens are installed outside on tall poles and make a loud wailing sound to warn people in the area when water levels rise, signaling an imminent flood.
—Rebecca Hersher, NPR, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for wail
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wail
Noun
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And yet, despite serving as a rallying cry among Democrats nationally, this gambit by Texas Democrats is going to fail if history is to be a guide.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
4 Aug. 2025
-
Melancholic nylon guitars, murmuring bongos, and the distant cry of a trumpet create a vibe that sounds timeless — the magic is undeniable.—
Tere Aguilera,
Billboard,
1 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Moscow’s escalating air war and the distinctive whine of Shaheds is now forcing Ukrainians out of their beds and into shelters and metro stations on an almost-nightly basis.—
Clare Sebastian,
CNN Money,
25 July 2025
-
That is, until you are subjected to the relentless whine of mosquitoes.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
16 July 2025
Verb
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Some residents and candidates have complained that Area Towing often overcharged customers, unaware of the costs when getting their vehicles towed.—
Niraj Warikoo,
Freep.com,
7 Aug. 2025
-
Republicans complain about the district’s heavy Democratic lean.—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Lakshmi also included a video of her and her dog, Divina, playfully howling for the camera.—
Christina Dugan Ramirez,
FOXNews.com,
4 Aug. 2025
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Axel Hunnicutt stood by the side of a dusty dirt road in California’s high country rangeland and howled like a wolf.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
1 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Cows in a nearby field groaned loudly, almost like they too were annoyed.—
Caoimhe O'Neill,
New York Times,
1 Aug. 2025
-
Of course, each episode features Frog cheering up Toad about something, Toad groaning and worrying, and their forest friends playing supporting roles in their adventures.—
Vulture Editors,
Vulture,
23 July 2025
Noun
-
Brandon swings his head up and to the left, a moan escaping his lips.—
Scott Craven,
AZCentral.com,
10 July 2025
-
Out comes another moan, this one closer to a laugh as Brandon’s face flashes a smile.—
Scott Craven,
AZCentral.com,
10 July 2025
Noun
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Perfectionism often gets misunderstood as an unstoppable striving for excellence, a quality that many of us would love to (half-heartedly) lament.—
Caroline Mimbs Nyce,
New Yorker,
5 Aug. 2025
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Not least, Mailman is a lament for the decline of service as an American ideal—for the cultural twilight of the Halloween job: those occupations, such as police officer, firefighter, Marine, and, yes, postal worker, whose worth is not measured first and foremost in dollars but in public esteem.—
Tyler Austin Harper,
The Atlantic,
1 Aug. 2025
Verb
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There's just a million things available and everything's screaming at you.—
Omaid Homayun,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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Noem screams, before spotting a service dog in the crowd and shooting it.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wail. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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