cries 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of cry
1
as in sobs
to shed tears often while making meaningless sounds as a sign of pain or distress some kids started to cry even before the doctor had given them their shot

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2
as in sings
to utter one's distinctive animal sound we knew that we were getting very close to the ocean when we could hear sea gulls crying

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3
as in shouts
to speak so as to be heard at a distance a mother crying for help

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

cries

2 of 2

noun

plural of cry
1
as in howls
a loud vocal expression of strong emotion a cry of despair arose when the smoke of the bomb blast cleared

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in calls
a natural vocal sound made by an animal the lonesome cry of a coyote

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3
as in slogans
an attention-getting word or phrase used to publicize something (as a campaign or product) "A chance to change America" was the cry on which the candidate was hoping to win the White House

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4
as in appeals
an earnest request the king was deaf to their cries

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5
as in screams
a sudden short emotional utterance cries of disbelief greeted the announcement of the surprise winner for best picture

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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 cries
Verb
In another concert, Mikis Theodorakis comes on stage with his son, and my father cries again. — Literary Hub, 20 July 2026 Since 2018, Microsoft has answered those curmudgeons’ cries with the Surface Laptop line, now in its eighth generation. — Joe Osborne, PC Magazine, 9 July 2026 Kelli cries over how solid the Mwangi unit is, praising Gerald as a father and husband and affirming that Shamea’s ass is real, while everyone else looks on, bewildered. — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 8 June 2026 Jennifer Brook cries her own tears for her husband. — Dawn White, CBS News, 28 May 2026 By the beginning of the second episode, Margo has dropped out of school and is the totally broke single mother to a colicky baby, Bodhi, who cries so committedly that two of Margo’s roommates move out. — Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026 In the spot, Shane sits in a middle seat next to a chatty flier while a baby cries in the background. — Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026 Many first-time parents worry about how others might react if a baby cries on a flight, but experienced travelers say those concerns are often unnecessary, Kay said. — Dallas Morning News, 13 Mar. 2026 An old movie in which a character cries at old movies takes an even faster path to tears, yet even then, age is the subject. — Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
Noun
Martin was then immediately handcuffed and arrested as the little girl’s cries were heard from inside the car. — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 2 Aug. 2026 The cries of seagulls, water lapping against the boat, the rumble of engines and the arrival of speedboats ferrying cast and crew give the sense of sharing the actors’ long waits on the open water. — Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 29 July 2026 Some 30 seconds into flight, lightning struck the rocket, leading to awestruck cries from crowds gathered nearby to watch the launch. — Brett Tingley, Space.com, 24 July 2026 Down the hall, just a few seconds later, a different woman gave birth to a little girl named Yasmina, whose cries could hardly be heard over the sound of the explosions around her. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 22 July 2026 Lost in all their cries is that many soccer experts believe that Balogun’s move did not merit a red card. — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 6 July 2026 After several hours, Leonel's cries gave way to silence, Márquez said. — ABC News, 6 July 2026 After several hours, Leonel’s cries gave way to silence, Márquez said. — Fernanda Pesce, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026 The castles burnt out one after another amid the joyous cries of the multitude. — Literary Hub, 1 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cries
  1. sobs
  2. sings
  3. shouts
  4. howls
  5. calls
  6. slogans
  7. appeals
  8. screams
Verb
  • Her endless screams and sobs echo back to the agonized wailing of The Mist’s David Drayton, who murdered his child and friends for nothing.
    — Josh Weiss, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
  • Later that day, Jamison sobs in bed while her mom and dad worry about her chances of getting into Stanford if she's reported to the police.
    — Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026
Definition of sobs
Verb
  • On his latest Hyperdub release, the Japanese producer born Takahide Higuchi sings more than on previous records but tortures his voice through a gauntlet of pitch-shifter effects.
    — Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 27 July 2026
  • Emcee/ringleader duties in the shows were mostly split between frequent guest star John Stamos and Love’s son, Christian Love (who sings lead on numbers formerly sung by the late Carl Wilson).
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 23 July 2026
Definition of sings
Verb
  • That video shows three boys scrubbing the floor and walls of a room in the school with rags as Morrison shouts commands and admonishments.
    — Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 24 July 2026
  • In the background, an adult voice shouts at the bear, helping to scare the animal off.
    — Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 7 July 2026
Definition of shouts
Noun
  • Somewhere in the heated mist hovered the howls of Albert Ayler and the clarion call of his brother Donald’s trumpet, followed by the Ornette Coleman Quartet, saluting him with joyous cacophony.
    — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 21 July 2026
  • Many American poets have written hymns and howls, declarations and outcries for this country that brims with so many people, and so many hopes, from all over the world.
    — Scott Simon, NPR, 4 July 2026
Definition of howls
Noun
  • After several Zoom calls, Nahmias flew to Charlotte without cameras, spending a few days simply getting to know Olive and her family.
    — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 30 July 2026
  • Since the police killing of George Floyd in 2020, some cities nationwide have heeded calls to reallocate money away from law enforcement and into mental health and social services.
    — Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 30 July 2026
Definition of calls
Noun
  • Aside from some placards with slogans for her party, there was no indication of who the new occupant was.
    — Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
  • Doyle advises leaving clothing with political slogans, inflammatory messages, or offensive language at home.
    — Jill Schildhouse, Southern Living, 15 July 2026
Definition of slogans
Noun
  • French government appeals for people to avoid the region are causing consternation.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 July 2026
  • At the same time, Ghana and other African nations have made more deliberate appeals to descendants of the diaspora through citizenship, residency, tourism and investment initiatives.
    — Richard Fowler, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of appeals
Noun
  • Two soldiers who initially seemed kind took her into the jungle, held her at gunpoint and raped her while holding her mouth shut to stifle her screams.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 July 2026
  • Bernthal screams, pointing down at the vomit (which is thankfully off-screen for the rest of us).
    — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 23 July 2026
Definition of screams

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Cries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cries. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of cries for Spanish Speakers

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