as in weeping
expressing or suggesting mourning
a wailing quality in her voice that makes her a natural for country music
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in screaming
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
the state's residents are always wailing about their high taxes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in howling
to make a long loud mournful sound
the women stood beside the coffins, wailing for their fallen sons and daughters
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in moaning
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 wailing
Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
In the early twentieth century, on the Andaman Islands, social anthropologists observed ritualistic greetings that involved wailing and weeping.
—Shayla Love, New Yorker, 4 Feb. 2026
Her characters often demonstrated how quickly and seamlessly a cyclone of cheerful mannerisms could morph into a wailing typhoon of uncorked madness.
—Merrill Markoe, Rolling Stone, 1 Feb. 2026
The despondent faces and the screaming, wailing and pleading from these men, women and children – reportedly as young as 5 years old – will forever haunt me.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
In the video, cars are heard honking, sirens are wailing and people are blowing whistles.
—Julia Ainsley, NBC news, 9 Jan. 2026
Chez and his father continue to grapple, with the officers ordering the father to back away as Chez’s panicked mother started wailing in the apartment.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
Haunting last scene with Cami and the coyotes wailing in grief.
—William Earl, Variety, 30 Nov. 2025
The room just was full of wailing.
—Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025
Adjective
Sitting opposite an old people’s home in a residential corner of Paris’ 14th arrondissement, La Santé’s unassuming presence is only given away by the occasional wailing siren as prisoners are transported to and from the site.
—Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
That distinct lack of urgency from Washington stands in stark contrast to the anxiety in Moscow, where there has been much wailing and gnashing of teeth over the arms reduction issue.
—Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
In the early twentieth century, on the Andaman Islands, social anthropologists observed ritualistic greetings that involved wailing and weeping.
—Shayla Love, New Yorker, 4 Feb. 2026
Her characters often demonstrated how quickly and seamlessly a cyclone of cheerful mannerisms could morph into a wailing typhoon of uncorked madness.
—Merrill Markoe, Rolling Stone, 1 Feb. 2026
The despondent faces and the screaming, wailing and pleading from these men, women and children – reportedly as young as 5 years old – will forever haunt me.
—Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
In the video, cars are heard honking, sirens are wailing and people are blowing whistles.
—Julia Ainsley, NBC news, 9 Jan. 2026
Chez and his father continue to grapple, with the officers ordering the father to back away as Chez’s panicked mother started wailing in the apartment.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
Haunting last scene with Cami and the coyotes wailing in grief.
—William Earl, Variety, 30 Nov. 2025
The room just was full of wailing.
—Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wailing
Adjective
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And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.—
David Mamet,
National Review,
11 Aug. 2022
-
The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.—
Helen Shaw,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2021
Verb
-
After National Guardsmen shot and killed four unarmed students at Kent State on May 4, 1970, Neil Young saw a Life magazine photo of a teenage girl screaming over one of the bodies and immediately wrote this song.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
1 Feb. 2026
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An astute writer, Aristidou avoids including a screaming match typical of stories like this.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The poll comes as the ballot measure proposal, which is being pushed by the health care worker labor union SEIU-UHW, draws howling fury from some vocal billionaires who have threatened to leave the state and, in some cases, taken steps toward divesting from California.—
Andrew Graham,
Sacbee.com,
21 Jan. 2026
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Whitman’s howling yodel and clean-cut persona were a far cry from the sound Presley had been rehearsing.—
Joe Sills,
Forbes.com,
17 Jan. 2026
Verb
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While Slot was moaning about having to play two away matches in four days (and about missing a couple of key players), Emery, also without important figures such as Boubacar Kamara, was overseeing his Villa side playing the same tough schedule and win both games without conceding a goal.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
-
While lying on the pavement, he could be heard moaning as an officer shouted at him not to move.—
Jose R. Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
13 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Newsom shakes his head, seeming more mournful than angry.—
Maya Singer,
Vogue,
1 Feb. 2026
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In addition to occasional bursts of folk songs, there are outstanding new compositions by Mario Batkovic that move from a quick, nerve-jangling pulse to a full surge of mournful chords in a late sequence.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The complaining witness in the case is Robert Held, a local attorney who has often protested at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing center in nearby Broadview.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Jan. 2026
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Spousal involvement with an AI is a growing reason for divorce, with partners complaining about the amount of time and money their spouses were spending on their AI relationship.—
Lori Andrews,
Mercury News,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The branches of that tree hanging over your home are groaning and creaking, tossed against each other like so many toothpicks.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
30 Jan. 2026
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The color of the sort of deep bruising normally associated with OSHA violations, Chicago’s uniforms herald long periods of bed rest and a night table groaning from the weight of so many prescription painkillers.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
16 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The page has raised over $14,000 in donations with a goal of $18,000 to cover funeral costs.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Five bikers have been indicted in connection to a bloody brawl between the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club and Demons of Hell Motorcycle Club that began at a funeral service on Long Island.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wailing. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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