WAILS Synonyms: 138 Similar and Opposite Words

wails 1 of 2

noun

plural of wail

as in tears

a crying out in grief a prolonged wail arose from every corner of the city as the victims of the earthquake were unearthed from the rubble

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as in groans

a long low sound indicating pain or grief rescuers heard a faint wail coming from the pile of rubble, a sure sign that one of the victims was still alive

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as in whines

an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment a transit fare increase that is sure to bring wails from the straphangers

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wails

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of wail

as in complains

to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely the state's residents are always wailing about their high taxes

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as in howls

to make a long loud mournful sound the women stood beside the coffins, wailing for their fallen sons and daughters

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as in moans

to utter a moan the patient lay in her bed, occasionally softly wailing in pain

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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 wails

Noun

Had likely started calling hospitals, shouting his name and description over the baby’s guttering wails, into the ears of phone operators and receptionists all over town. — Téa Obreht, New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2026 When the sun goes down, the wind picks up in central New Mexico, whipping through arid canyons with a ghostly howl that for centuries, locals have likened to the wails of the folkloric ghost La Llorona. — Sara Herschander, Vox, 22 Oct. 2026 No wet plop of a SpongeBob ice cream bar crashing onto hot asphalt; a child’s apocalyptic wails ensuing. — Allyson Reedy, Denver Post, 16 Sep. 2026 Memory tends to lose sound quickly, but even years later, Jake’s mother’s wails play with the same staccatos and double chords. — Caroline Cherston, STAT, 25 Aug. 2026 Mourners beat their chests rhythmically in the intense summer heat, the wails of women cutting through the noise as the body of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was unveiled beneath a glass case at the Grand Mosalla. — Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 4 July 2026 After a second of consideration, Naim slams the grate shut to the monster’s wails, and the audience’s relief. — Arushi Jacob, Variety, 19 June 2026 Her wails of pain were audible on TV broadcasts as medics tended to her before a helicopter finally carried her away. — Becky Sullivan, NPR, 6 May 2026 Within moments, a smoke detector wails. — ArsTechnica, 1 May 2026

Verb

Amidst the footfalls are screams and wails; the asphalt is littered with body parts, blurred for broadcast. — Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026 Sam makes a production out of teasing them, mock-reaching for various items on the set as the whole group moans and wails in distress. — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026 Another voice wails in the background. — ABC News, 28 Feb. 2026 Anna wails, determined to separate the pair at any cost and not lacking in support from the others. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 14 Feb. 2026 As Electridad wails for justice, her brother Orestes spends his time in exile with Nino (Luis Medina), a move made by his late father in probable anticipation of his demise. — Zach Dennis, Charlotte Observer, 15 Aug. 2025 The Ferrari hybrid, for its part, still wails like a La Scala tenor to an emotional, 8,000-rpm peak. — IEEE Spectrum, 29 Mar. 2022

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wails

Noun

At his Austin watch party, supporters celebrated the results with cheers, dancing and tears.

— Amelia Mugavero, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026
Supporters cried tears of joy and hugged one another, sharing political news of the city and also the country, as the energy in the crowd further amped up seemingly every half-hour.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of tears

Verb

In his journals Steinbeck complains about how sore his fingers got after writing with pencils all day long.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2026
Thomas complains about being stuck in the Keanu Reeves movie Speed, which sends Paladin off on a surprisingly indignant, knowledgeable pop-culture rant.

— Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of complains

Noun

These rock lamentations will not be carried over to the full-length album the band still has in the works, which Bono promises will have a more joyful tone.

— Chris Willman, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026
The album’s Bandcamp blurb shouts out Ghédalia Tarzatès, the late French composer who collaged his wails and lamentations in the endangered Ladino language to evoke pangs of existential angst.

— H.D. Angel, Pitchfork, 6 Feb. 2026

Definition of lamentations

Noun

The committee might be thankful its initial release came moments before the flipping of the House and Senate captured Tuesday night’s headlines as UCLA was far from the only program with complaints.

— Aaron Heisen, Daily News, 5 Nov. 2026
One of our biggest complaints about the prior mini was its bezels, which felt large for a tablet of its size.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 5 Nov. 2026