WAIL (FOR) Synonyms: 31 Similar and Opposite Words

wail (for)

verb

Definition of wail (for)

as in to mourn

to feel or express sorrow for her grandfather asked her not to wail for him, saying that he had had a good life and was at peace

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wail (for)

Verb

The series focuses on a 13-year-old named Sophie, who mourns her grandfather Thomas every day in a Milan cemetery.

— Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 23 Oct. 2026
Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Riley Green, and more mourned Anderson, and honored the Country Music Hall of Fame member’s generational talent.

— Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of mourn

Verb

The shop also pushed back against Clarkson’s version of events, saying all patrons are welcome, then lamented that the singer’s harsh statement had caused unwanted attention.

— Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 16 Oct. 2026
Dozens of comments piled up on Facebook as Idahoans lamented its demise.

— Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of lament

Verb

Sirianni stood by his decision on that sequence but regretted kicking the ball in play to Ameer Abdullah on the ensuing kickoff, after Abdullah’s 53-yard return in seven seconds set up Jacksonville’s game-winning kick.

— Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni immediately regretted the decision.

— ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of regret

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

wailers

wail (for)

wailfully

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Wail (for).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wail%20%28for%29. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of wail (for)

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

disparate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes