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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wailed
Israeli authorities focused on Iran, and citizens dashed repeatedly for shelter as sirens wailed.
—
Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026
Air raid sirens wailed in Israel as multiple missiles targeted Tel Aviv and Jerusalem early Sunday.
—Greg Myre, NPR, 1 Mar. 2026
Israeli authorities focused on Iran, and citizens dashed repeatedly for shelter as sirens wailed.
—ABC News, 1 Mar. 2026
Sirens wailed across Israel to warn the public about possible incoming missile strikes.
—Dallas Morning News, 28 Feb. 2026
Around the country, sirens wailed and people received cellphone alerts as Iran launched retaliatory strikes, which the Israeli military says have been intercepted by their missile defense system.
—CBS News, 28 Feb. 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
Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2026
Air raid sirens wailed in Israel as multiple missiles targeted Tel Aviv and Jerusalem early Sunday.
—Greg Myre, NPR, 1 Mar. 2026
Israeli authorities focused on Iran, and citizens dashed repeatedly for shelter as sirens wailed.
—ABC News, 1 Mar. 2026
Sirens wailed across Israel to warn the public about possible incoming missile strikes.
—Dallas Morning News, 28 Feb. 2026
Around the country, sirens wailed and people received cellphone alerts as Iran launched retaliatory strikes, which the Israeli military says have been intercepted by their missile defense system.
—CBS News, 28 Feb. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wailed
Verb
-
For years, people who lived just outside the urban center of Boca Raton complained to each other about the massive new buildings going up all around Palmetto Park Boulevard and Mizner Park, but these conversations always ended with the same sense of helplessness.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Mar. 2026
-
By 2015, the big three credit bureaus had become the most complained about firms in the agency’s complaint system.—
Joel Jacobs,
CNN Money,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Fans at my screening howled as ex-con maid Sydney Sweeney and desperate housewife Amanda Seyfried waged their hysterical suburban war.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
30 Jan. 2026
-
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
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
-
Plenty of kids screamed and threw up heart signs in the crowd as Ejae, Nuna, and Ami hit the chorus’ high note.—
Walden Green,
Pitchfork,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Coach Travis Steele screamed at the officials at halftime, knocking over a speaker on his way off the court and picking up a technical foul.—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Though the ballot measure also didn’t say the state needed to provide all of that money at once, lawmakers were already bracing for a budget shortfall last year and groaned under the strain of finding any more funding.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Everyone in the car groaned with disappointment.—
Marisa McMillan,
Outside,
27 Feb. 2026
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
-
Elena sobbed when her parents told her that the nanny wouldn’t be taking care of her anymore.—
Gerald Witt,
AJC.com,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Standing over the memorial that has grown to take up the length of a building, a man in a The North Face jacket sobbed quietly.—
Andrea Castillo,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 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
-
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 12 Mar. 2026.
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