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
March 2, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
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
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
Video obtained by The Associated Press showed the smoke with an alarm wailing, and a correspondent for French news agency AFP saw smoke rising from the diplomatic mission.
—March 2, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
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
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
-
Police were called to Access Self Storage at 7000 Southwest 22nd Court on March 1 after an employee reported hearing a man inside a unit screaming and asking for medical attention, according to the report.—
David Goodhue
March 10,
Miami Herald,
10 Mar. 2026
-
During cross-examination of Kaley in February, a Meta lawyer played footage of her mother screaming at her that the teen had posted to social media, and displayed Kaley’s lower-case Instagram story rants about her home life.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Conjuring images of blizzards and howling winds, Kevin Richard Martin’s Sub Zero is called that for a reason.—
Andrew Ryce,
Pitchfork,
27 Feb. 2026
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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
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
-
His villains were flamboyant, but Bruce was mournful, reluctant — no onscreen superhero has more palpably wrestled with not wanting to be a superhero.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Such memories flowed freely this week on social media and in mournful first-person essays.—
Dan Adler,
Vanity Fair,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
What was once a vibrant part of the downtown has largely been abandoned by shoppers, and businesses are complaining about the lack of parking.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
-
On the hottest of hot Disney theme park days, a portable fan can be a great way to cool off and minimize complaining from the littlest members of your group.—
Terri Peters,
Parents,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This was the first time in a long time that a Leeds side left the Elland Road crowd audibly frustrated, groaning at every backwards pass or defensive slip-up.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Immediately as Silva got out of his SUV, he was shot in the hand and soon after in the head, grunting and groaning in pain as blood spatter suddenly appeared on his uniform sleeve.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Two people were killed at a funeral repast on Detroit's east side in late February.—
Terell Bailey,
CBS News,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Authorities will announce the funeral procession at a later date.—
Lee Ying Shan,Anniek Bao,Victor Loh,
CNBC,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wailing. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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