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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wailed
According to the post, the officer approached the gate, asked what was going on, and stood watching as the husky wailed.
—
Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 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
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
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
Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wailed
Verb
-
Putin's security staffers complained about the quality of the men's room serving the bureau.—
David Folkenflik,
NPR,
15 Apr. 2026
-
More than two months after the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie's mom in an apparent kidnapping, residents in Nancy Guthrie's Catalina Foothills neighborhood have complained about vloggers and amateur journalists trespassing, the Pima County Sheriff's Department confirmed to USA TODAY.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Soon a lone wolf howled behind us.—
Frank Glaser,
Outdoor Life,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Much like the snowstorm outside Williams Arena, the winds howled in another direction with Hopkins getting to the hoop and scoring 17 of the final 20 points for a 32-28 lead at the break.—
Mike Cook,
Twin Cities,
15 Mar. 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
-
None of that would have screamed sports mogul.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
17 Apr. 2026
-
After being placed in a government vehicle, Ferreira Borges allegedly kicked, flailed, and screamed obscenities at officers, officials said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Ed Gamble groaned about being paired with David Baddiel, whose track record at tasks that season was poor, to say the least.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 Apr. 2026
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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
Verb
-
Never whined, even as quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s play deteriorated last season.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
19 Mar. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Williams sobbed in court as the verdict was read.—
Lisa Schencker,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Haugh buried his head in the hardwood and sobbed.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
23 Mar. 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 21 Apr. 2026.
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