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

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 Maybe the wails and crushed dreams of American travelers will finally melt their hearts. —

Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026 In some, relatives are seen walking among the black bags, trying to identify the deceased, as wails and screams fill the background. —

Molly Hunter, NBC news, 30 Jan. 2026 At times, the noise of grinding gears can obscure the soprano whoops and wails of the preschoolers. —

Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026 The ear-splitting wails came from a little girl trying to get the star’s attention. —

Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 3 Dec. 2025 People judge others for the precise pitch of their wails. —

Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025 So, on the night after the murder, the town’s streets were filled with anguished cries from the Inuit—wails of loss and pain. —

Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025

Verb

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

Vince won the case at trial, though Linda was reportedly left in tears when an exchange in court revealed another Vince affair.

— Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Troy Brown was in tears Monday while talking about his son, who died in the shooting.

— Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2026