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
Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2026
In Union City on Saturday, March 7, the purring and wailing of chainsaws was constant.
—Liam Rappleye, Freep.com, 7 Mar. 2026
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
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
For five days, Nelsie Yang worried over the fate of her father’s younger brother, a beloved uncle removed from his home by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the presence of his wailing children, one of whom has a genetic condition similar to Down syndrome.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2026
In Union City on Saturday, March 7, the purring and wailing of chainsaws was constant.
—Liam Rappleye, Freep.com, 7 Mar. 2026
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
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
-
Witnesses recorded a video of Barranco screaming in pain as four agents piled on top of him and punched him during the arrest.—
Luzdelia Caballero,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Late in the second quarter of Sunday night’s game at Madison Square Garden, with the lead slipping away in what would eventually be a 110-107 Warriors loss to the Knicks, Steve Kerr was caught on camera screaming and pointing at Will Richard after a turnover.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That way, their songs can be carried farther to potential mates, without the noisy interruption of a howling wind.—
Sheryl De Vore,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Every trip down and back left his lungs howling.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
One minute later, Pedro Neto was yellow-carded for moaning.—
Matt Slater,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 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
-
Over the years, humpback whale songs have been recorded for human listening, with many describing the songs as having a haunting, mournful quality.—
Patrick Whittle,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Humpback whales, which can weigh more than 55,000 pounds, are the ocean's most renowned singers, capable of complex vocalizations that can sound ethereal or even mournful.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Paktyawal began complaining of shortness of breath and chest pains while being held in a holding room at the Dallas ICE field office on Friday evening and was taken to the hospital to receive breathing treatment, the agency said.—
Aarón Torres,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Many are complaining about their local property tax.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Borders’ widower, Ben Oliver, and sister, Angela Borders, organized a GoFundMe to help with funeral costs.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Family members have set up an online fundraiser to help cover funeral expenses.—
Steve Large,
CBS News,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wailing. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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