Synonyms of wails

wails 1 of 2

noun

plural of wail

1

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tears
• cries
• lamentations
• groans
• howls
• moans
• laments
• mournings
• plaints
• sobs
• keens
• sufferings
• regrets
• protests
• outcries
• sorrows
• heartaches
• anguishes
• heartbreaks
• woes
• griefs
• complaints
• dolors
• hand-wringings
• cris de coeur

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rejoicings
• exultations

2

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• groans
• moans
• whimpers
• shrieks
• cries
• whines
• whinings
• lamentations
• yelps
• howls
• laments
• plaints
• yowls
• bawls
• squalls
• keens

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• giggles
• laughs
• chuckles
• guffaws
• snickers
• titters
• cackles
• chortles
• sniggers
• twitters

3

as in whines

an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment

a transit fare increase that is sure to bring wails from the straphangers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• whines
• moans
• complaints
• laments
• whimpers
• grievances
• fusses
• bitches
• grumbles
• squawks
• bleats
• murmurs
• gripes
• hollers
• plaints
• whinges
• yammers
• carps
• beefs
• protests
• grouses
• objections
• grouches
• kvetches
• misereres
• expostulations
• remonstrances
• stinks
• challenges
• quibbles
• demurs
• kicks
• niggles

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• compliments
• plaudits
• praises
• commendations
• acclaim
• sanctions
• approvals
• applauses
• endorsements

wails

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of wail

1

as in complains

to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely

the state's residents are always wailing about their high taxes

Synonyms & Similar Words

• complains
• screams
• whines
• moans
• growls
• whimpers
• mutters
• cries
• squeals
• grumbles
• squawks
• worries
• murmurs
• yowls
• hollers
• kicks
• bleats
• inveighs
• grouses
• caterwauls
• nags
• keens
• gripes
• bitches
• whinges
• yammers
• croaks
• kvetches
• beefs
• bellyaches
• yawps
• fusses
• protests
• grizzles
• crabs
• sobs
• grumps
• kicks up a fuss
• carps
• grouches
• repines
• maunders
• objects (to)
• laments
• quarrels (with)
• bewails
• blubbers
• quibbles
• frets
• bemoans
• stews
• deplores
• cavils

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rejoices
• delights
• accepts
• endures
• takes
• bears
• tolerates
• cheers
• crows
• applauds
• commends
• countenances

2

as in howls

to make a long loud mournful sound

the women stood beside the coffins, wailing for their fallen sons and daughters

Synonyms & Similar Words

• howls
• screams
• shrieks
• yells
• yowls
• keens
• squeals
• screeches
• shrills
• yelps
• ululates
• bays
• bawls
• caterwauls
• squalls
• yawps

3

as in moans

to utter a moan

the patient lay in her bed, occasionally softly wailing in pain

Synonyms & Similar Words

• groans
• moans
• cries
• sobs
• whimpers
• whines
• shrieks
• weeps
• howls
• yelps
• sniffs
• laments
• bewails
• blubbers
• grieves
• bemoans
• snivels
• rues
• deplores
• mourns
• sorrows
• bawls
• agonizes
• hurts
• suffers
• keens
• yowls
• yammers
• anguishes
• bleeds
• squalls

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• laughs
• giggles
• chuckles
• cackles
• chortles
• guffaws
• snickers
• cracks up
• titters
• twitters

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of wails

Noun

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

Mitchell has made the point before that every new technology brings wails that the fish won’t survive. — Mike McFeely, Twin Cities, 24 Apr. 2026

There was grit and grime to his feedback-heavy guitar wails, but there was sweep and grandeur too, more apparent on stage than on record. — Piet Levy, jsonline.com, 28 Mar. 2026

Ride the thrill of Hostile Design’s passionate wails and percussion overload when the group headlines eight shows to kick off the new year, making their way across California, Rhode Island, Quebec, Ontario, Pennsylvania, and Illinois with the same energy that once fueled their humble beginnings. — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 24 Mar. 2026

Verb

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