1
as in cry
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in groan
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in whine
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment
a transit fare increase that is sure to bring wails from the straphangers
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1
as in to complain
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
the state's residents are always wailing about their high taxes
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2
3
as in to groan
to utter a moan
the patient lay in her bed, occasionally softly wailing in pain
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wail
Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 3 Feb. 2025
Mark and Helly, drawn to the wails of what sounds like an infant, open a door inside the Lumon complex and discover an all-white room with baby goats frolicking on bales of hay and one being bottle-fed by a man in a suit.
—Jen Chaney, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2025
Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2025
Meanwhile, outie Gemma wails outside the door, begging Mark to return to her.
—Rebecca Aizin, People.com, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wail
Noun
Sunday, June 8, 2025 Lake Como, Italy THE PARTY AT THE VILLA
A single chilling wail erupts from the grand ballroom on Palazzo Mella’s ground floor, cutting through the whir of the choppers above.
—Verb
Another video showed a woman wailing in agony over one of the victims.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for wail
Noun
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Raising the ceiling is often preceded by lots of drama—social security benefits and payments for Medicare and Medicaid will be in danger, are routine cries—as a deadline approaches.—
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The message was as a rallying cry by one of China’s most prominent tech leaders to a company going through one of the most tumultuous times in its history.—
Noun
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The motor produces a whine that is noticeable but not distracting.—
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Israel Hernandez heard the faint whine of sirens outside his Wilmington apartment and looked up just in time to see a minivan crash into another vehicle as police gave chase.—
Verb
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Pundits complained last year’s Cannes was a light affair, but that had to do with the bottleneck created by the strikes, for one.—
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While speaking at a dinner hosted by the National Republican Congressional Committee on Tuesday, Trump complained over how the U.S. doesn’t manufacturer its own pharmaceuticals stating that tariffs on these products would be forthcoming.—
Verb
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The other side: Democrats are howling at the GOP's full embrace of using a current policy score to lower the cost of extending Trump's 2017 tax cuts.—
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Bing then started barking and howling as Watts smiled, before a series of clips played of Bing sending off other stars on the film.—
Verb
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Both fell to the floor — Delaney groaning in ecstasy, Williams screaming in agony.—
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My assumption is that most rational human beings would happily stay in a warm and cozy office and simply listen to the building creak and groan under the force of the violent gusts.—
Noun
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None of these moans are intended to dismiss the importance of clever in-jokes and references to past adventures.—
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Tonally registering as if carved from a medium-hard piece of oak, his transparent deliveries — mellow whispers, conversational assertions, longing moans, resolute cries — served as effective vessels for those character sketches and autobiographical reflections.—
Noun
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Prominent among these are baseless critiques of the NAEP itself (lauded as the gold standard of achievement measures) and a lament that the science of reading — recently endorsed by more than 40 states — has failed.—
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In classical terms, this begins as an Adagio in D minor — a slow lament led by a solo cello, that accelerates into a chaotic swell of strings.—
Verb
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Polley’s Polley ends up (understandably) screaming in frustration when Matt pratfalls his way into the shot, a tantrum the indie director could hardly relate to as someone known for facilitating calm, peaceful productions on intimate character studies.—
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Footage shared on social media has shown moviegoers screaming, tossing buckets of popcorn in the air and enthusiastically applauding.—
Cite this Entry
“Wail.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wail. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
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