1
as in to cry
to shed tears often while making meaningless sounds as a sign of pain or distress
he bawled for days after his dog died
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to yell
to speak so as to be heard at a distance
the mover was bawling for help as the refrigerator was about to slip out of his hands
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of bawl
Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 25 Dec. 2025
Eusexua offers a soundtrack for bedrooms and basements fit for balling and bawling sessions.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
Jeremy Engle, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2024
As the weekend’s big game approached, David Singleton could have staged his own super bawl.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2022
See All Example Sentences for bawl
Verb
But the night will be more remembered for the emotional tribute that had Marchand bawling by the end of it.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 25 Dec. 2025
Eusexua offers a soundtrack for bedrooms and basements fit for balling and bawling sessions.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
Noun
Instead, similar to other animals, newborn babies produce a heartbreaking (and ear-piercing) bawl.
—Jeremy Engle, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2024
As the weekend’s big game approached, David Singleton could have staged his own super bawl.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2022
See All Example Sentences for bawl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bawl
Verb
-
Chuck went viral on social media after the NBC Sports Bay Area broadcast repeatedly showed him kicking, screaming and crying in family members’ arms — reacting to the family’s celebrations of Susac’s big day.—
Michael McGough,
Sacbee.com,
3 Apr. 2026
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Perhaps the path forward is not only for those holding the signs, but also for those who stop being spectators — like the young woman to my left on Saturday who suddenly began to cry, or the older woman who, after talking about blues music, felt the need to tell me that this is not good for anyone.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Staley yelled back at him as assistants from both teams separated the two.—
Doug Feinberg,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Apr. 2026
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On the day of the shooting, Owens knocked on Lorincz's door to confront her after Owens' son said Lorincz yelled and threw roller skates at him, according to the sheriff's office, but Lorincz would not open the door.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Is such an existential shriek into the abyss, all while living in a society suffused by mind-numbing grief and nationalism, worth subjecting yourself to?—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
28 Mar. 2026
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Clad in tattered midnight rags, faces painted pale as a marble grave, the coven rushed forward arm in arm, their malevolent shrieks ringing through the Merchandise Mart.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Rabell was wearing her nightgown, sobbing, shaking and slumped against her cane when Horta picked her up, Horta said.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
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Family members, wearing yellow with buttons that pictured Preston, sobbed throughout much of the hearing.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Shoppers shout out the arch support and cushy soles, which are always a plus.—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
4 Apr. 2026
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Auriemma had angry words for South Carolina coach Dawn Staley and had to be restrained by his assistant coaches while Staley shouted at him in response after UConn lost its first game of the season, 62-48, at the Mortgage Matchup Center.—
Lori Riley,
Hartford Courant,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Village sounds of chickens and goats were pierced by the distant whine of commercial jets climbing out of Agadir’s international airport.—
Kevin West,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Mar. 2026
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No suspicious whine in the air, no burning of pungent oils to put off biters.—
Antonia Quirke,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Life-sized statues of Jesus crucified, the weeping Virgin Mary, and representations of scenes from the Gospels’ accounts of Jesus' torture and death on a cross are carried in large processions in different parts of the world.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 Apr. 2026
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Sonically, the track (produced and composed by Gavilan) is a melancholic grassroots folk song accompanied by weeping guitar riffs and a heart-pounding cajón.—
Tere Aguilera,
Billboard,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
For families This hotel doesn’t scream family-friendly and there’s no kids’ menu in the restaurants.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Martens plans to scream, if not louder, than with more originality.—
Rachel Tashjian,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bawl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bawl. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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