1
as in cries
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 shouts
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bawls
Verb
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As the child incessantly cries day and night, Henry begins to have surreal visions that only an innovative mind like Lynch's could devise.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Jan. 2026 -
Sophie holds back and cries in her room.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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
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Yet there has been no panic internally, nor shouts from players or hierarchy to abandon the plan.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Cannon weeps into an expansive white space that only she and Trish inhabit.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
17 Dec. 2025
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In her new Disney+ documentary, The End of an Era, Taylor Swift weeps while reflecting on violent attacks and threats made against her fans during the Eras Tour.—
Jennifer Zhan,
Vulture,
12 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Texas Christian University Horned Frogs head coach Mark Campbell yells instruction to his players during the second half against the Houston Cougars at Schollmaier Arena in Fort Worth, February 4, 2026.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
5 Feb. 2026
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If your boss yells at you for five minutes, that’s just $5 gone.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The series ends as Eddie goes into Jamie's bedroom, sobs into the comforter and holds his teddy bear.—
Jessica Sager,
PEOPLE,
11 Jan. 2026
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Her mom, Andrea Swift, can be seen handing her a tissue as Swift hangs her head and sobs.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Earlier this month, a Gardena police officer responded to a report that there were whimpers and cries coming from a self-compacting trash can outside a church.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Jan. 2026
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As the puppy lets out another barrage of whimpers, the kitten then looks directly at the camera, as if wondering casually what's going on.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Aquilla Sadalla’s wordless vocals, a gorgeous swell of howls and heaves, complement the arrangement without becoming the focal point.—
Mark Richardson,
Pitchfork,
3 Feb. 2026
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The Wolf Moon name dates back to Indigenous and early Anglo-Saxon traditions, inspired by the winter wolves whose howls echoed across cold January nights.—
Doug Melville,
Forbes.com,
3 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The language surrounding Bailey echoes sentiments from the 1990s and early 2000s, when public revelations of a celebrity’s homosexuality often triggered exaggerated lamentations from straight female fans.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Nov. 2025
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The previous two Jennings collaborations — 2024’s The Fear of Standing Still and 2020’s Lamentations — are two of Barham’s personal favorites in his entire catalog.—
Josh Crutchmer,
Rolling Stone,
20 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Bawls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bawls. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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