1
as in complained
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
the state's residents are always wailing about their high taxes
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in moaned
to utter a moan
the patient lay in her bed, occasionally softly wailing in pain
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of wailed
Sunday was the test that all championship teams must pass, and the Rams did so with frozen hands and puffy faces and a will that wailed.
—
Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
Their toddler, who was watching, went into her bedroom and wailed as her father penetrated her mother.
—S. C. Cornell, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
Sirens wailed and gunshots rang out as the two men grappled for several seconds, before Ahmed wrenched the gun from the attacker’s hands.
—Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 15 Dec. 2025
Once again, the Kiss Army wailed about the move, but the song just missed the pop Top 10 as the LP topped the million-unit mark.
—Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 16 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
As the siren wailed before kickoff on the rainy night the stadium scoreboards flashed HURRICANE WARNING.
—Miami Herald, 1 Sep. 2025
Probably no one has wailed this role with quite the gusto that Lambert wails it, though many have tried.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 4 Aug. 2025
Instead, the main event was a regular monthly test of the historic siren, known formally as an ACA Hurricane 130 MKII model, which ― at precisely noon ― wailed for just over three minutes near North 81st Street and West Bradley Road before settling back into patient silence.
—Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 24 July 2025
Senior Editor, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
Their toddler, who was watching, went into her bedroom and wailed as her father penetrated her mother.
—S. C. Cornell, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
Sirens wailed and gunshots rang out as the two men grappled for several seconds, before Ahmed wrenched the gun from the attacker’s hands.
—Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 15 Dec. 2025
Once again, the Kiss Army wailed about the move, but the song just missed the pop Top 10 as the LP topped the million-unit mark.
—Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 16 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
As the siren wailed before kickoff on the rainy night the stadium scoreboards flashed HURRICANE WARNING.
—Miami Herald, 1 Sep. 2025
Probably no one has wailed this role with quite the gusto that Lambert wails it, though many have tried.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 4 Aug. 2025
Instead, the main event was a regular monthly test of the historic siren, known formally as an ACA Hurricane 130 MKII model, which ― at precisely noon ― wailed for just over three minutes near North 81st Street and West Bradley Road before settling back into patient silence.
—Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 24 July 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wailed
Verb
-
In demonstrating the technology to CalMatters, using an imaginary 56-year-old female patient who complained of trouble breathing, Scope asked several follow-up questions to drill down on her symptoms.—
Cal Matters,
Mercury News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Independent journalists and civil society complained of surveillance and harassment.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
While the critics howled during that 1-15 season in 1989, Johnson and even his assistants maintained their cockiness and mocked the criticism.—
Tim Cowlishaw,
Dallas Morning News,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Even those who lingered an hour or so after the Bulls’ 125-107 win over the Dallas Mavericks howled for the other game.—
Joel Lorenzi,
New York Times,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Critics moaned when the CFP committee picked the Hurricanes over Notre Dame as the last Power 4 entry into the playoffs.—
Chris Hays,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Strapped to a stretcher in the back of an ambulance, the shooting victim moaned, then screamed.—
Lauren Caruba,
Dallas Morning News,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Protesters screamed at agents, threw snowballs and tried to block their vehicles.—
Tim Sullivan,
Fortune,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Mostly, Connell said, the protesters just screamed at agents.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Audience members groaned at the pun.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
17 Dec. 2025
-
One of the inmates reported Gondor approached her bunk, rubbed her foot with the crotch of his pants, and groaned.—
Logan Smith,
CBS News,
13 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The children jumped for joy after winning a game of cornhole; others fell and whined in defeat, but got up to play again.—
Christopher Buchanan,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Chip whined and nuzzled at my hand.—
Joel M. Vance,
Outdoor Life,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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When Gonzales was acquitted, bereaved family members silently sobbed while others were seen holding their faces and wiping tears.—
Matthew J. Friedman,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Capote sobbed on the flight back to New York, tightly clutching Fox’s hand.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As for one consistent complaint heard muttered amid bleary-eyed guests of the former Standard, Schrager confirms the appropriate adjustments have been made.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Nov. 2025
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But the other 3%, often muttered by students prospectively examining transfer applications, is distinct.—
Noah White,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wailed. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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