as in weeping
expressing or suggesting mourning
a wailing quality in her voice that makes her a natural for country music
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
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
-
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
-
As the nation bonded as one over the past two weeks biting nails, screaming at wins, wincing at crashes and choking up at all the beautiful moments of Olympic competition, another group of athletes were – and still are – out honing their multi-level championship skills.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
-
People went ballistic—cursing, yelling, screaming, all kinds of threats.—
Andrew Norman Wilson,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But physical appearance is not the only thing that defines them, as therians adopt animal-like attitudes such as walking or running on all fours, sniffing, howling, meowing, and sometimes biting.—
Paula Soria,
AZCentral.com,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The onslaught of bad news elicited howling in Canada, groans in Atlanta and frenetic Googling to determine just what, exactly, is the hamate bone.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Such memories flowed freely this week on social media and in mournful first-person essays.—
Dan Adler,
Vanity Fair,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Newsom shakes his head, seeming more mournful than angry.—
Maya Singer,
Vogue,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Your corrupt presidency of graft, vengeance and ceaseless vacillation between loudly complaining and loudly boasting has become like a jackhammer outside our collective window every day since your inauguration.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
21 Feb. 2026
-
But please don’t stop complaining about the numerous kids who abuse traffic laws while riding dangerously on e-bikes.—
Ticked Off,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
When dinner was served, some of the highest flyers of Chicago were laid low, falling to the floor, groaning in agony and vomiting.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
-
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
Adjective
-
An imam was hauled up from his small room adjacent to his small mosque and ordered to get ready to lead the funeral prayers of a very important man.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Feb. 2026
-
After the visitation, there will be the funeral procession, where Elliott will be laid to rest in Crown Hill Cemetery.—
Jade Jackson,
IndyStar,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wailing. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
