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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
3
as in shouts
to speak so as to be heard at a distance
a mother crying for help
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in howls
a loud vocal expression of strong emotion
a cry of despair arose when the smoke of the bomb blast cleared
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in calls
a natural vocal sound made by an animal
the lonesome cry of a coyote
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in appeals
an earnest request
the king was deaf to their cries
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in screams
a sudden short emotional utterance
cries of disbelief greeted the announcement of the surprise winner for best picture
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of cries
Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Jan. 2026
Sophie holds back and cries in her room.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
The toddler cries more, throws tantrums.
—Meg Anderson, NPR, 22 Jan. 2026
In the clip, all four of her children are sitting on the bed, while one of the twins cries loudly.
—Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
Watching, Heining cries every darn time.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 31 Dec. 2025
This is one of the worst of them, with Alec Baldwin bravely fighting to bring Medgar Evers’s assassin to justice while Whoopi Goldberg cheers him on and cries.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 16 Dec. 2025
Rosas cries almost every night now, thinking of Bryant, three years into his seven-year sentence at the Jackson Correctional Institution in Malone, Florida.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 23 Nov. 2025
The guy even cries a bit after winning, hoping to make his family at home proud.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 24 Sep. 2025
Megan Feringa, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
When the time comes, listen to the whistles, the car horns, the cries in the air.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
The incident sparked cries of alarm from those in attendance.
—John Parkinson, ABC News, 27 Jan. 2026
The Dodgers’ $240-million signing of Kyle Tucker revived anguished cries that the team is ruining baseball.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Flag waving, immigration restriction, and culture-war rallying cries can shore up the MAGA-tech coalition, but more will be needed to achieve lasting success.
—Walter Russell Mead, The Atlantic, 24 Jan. 2026
BenQ has heard the anguished cries of movie enthusiasts who don't have the luxury of large rooms for a home cinema setup.
—New Atlas, 22 Jan. 2026
Williams’ days were spent at an apartment in Fort Worth that at times was filled with the unabating cries of his 4-month-old son.
—Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Jan. 2026
And then, amid the twisted metal of the wreckage, the cries of the injured and the silence of the dead.
—CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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
The toddler cries more, throws tantrums.
—Meg Anderson, NPR, 22 Jan. 2026
In the clip, all four of her children are sitting on the bed, while one of the twins cries loudly.
—Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
Watching, Heining cries every darn time.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 31 Dec. 2025
This is one of the worst of them, with Alec Baldwin bravely fighting to bring Medgar Evers’s assassin to justice while Whoopi Goldberg cheers him on and cries.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 16 Dec. 2025
Rosas cries almost every night now, thinking of Bryant, three years into his seven-year sentence at the Jackson Correctional Institution in Malone, Florida.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 23 Nov. 2025
The guy even cries a bit after winning, hoping to make his family at home proud.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 24 Sep. 2025
Noun
No wonder then, when substitute Mia Enderby met Jenna Clark’s cross perfectly in the 92nd minute, putting Liverpool 1-0 up, the cries of celebration spilled out before the ball had officially crossed the goal line.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
When the time comes, listen to the whistles, the car horns, the cries in the air.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
The incident sparked cries of alarm from those in attendance.
—John Parkinson, ABC News, 27 Jan. 2026
The Dodgers’ $240-million signing of Kyle Tucker revived anguished cries that the team is ruining baseball.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Flag waving, immigration restriction, and culture-war rallying cries can shore up the MAGA-tech coalition, but more will be needed to achieve lasting success.
—Walter Russell Mead, The Atlantic, 24 Jan. 2026
BenQ has heard the anguished cries of movie enthusiasts who don't have the luxury of large rooms for a home cinema setup.
—New Atlas, 22 Jan. 2026
Williams’ days were spent at an apartment in Fort Worth that at times was filled with the unabating cries of his 4-month-old son.
—Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Jan. 2026
And then, amid the twisted metal of the wreckage, the cries of the injured and the silence of the dead.
—CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cries
Verb
-
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
-
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
Verb
-
And then Ratner sings along to the song, as does Melania.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
In the dark, a poet sings to hold the wolves at bay.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Hilliker shouts as her family applauds them.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
31 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
The year's first full moon is best known as the wolf moon since the howls of wolves were more likely to be heard during winter, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
2 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
While officials later restored much of the country’s domestic bandwidth, as well as local and international phone calls and SMS messaging, the population is largely unable to freely access the internet because of heavy state filtering.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Field officers in Minneapolis will get body cameras after calls for accountability, said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.—
David Hickey,
NBC news,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Protestors marched from terminal to terminal chanting slogans.—
Kaya Genç,
The Dial,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Written on the bandana, in Urdu and English, were slogans indicating the wearer’s readiness for martyrdom.—
Sophia Saifi,
CNN Money,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Automated e-filing and telephone calls still went through; however, all in-person appointments were canceled, walk-in taxpayer assistance centers were closed, audits, applications, paper processing and appeals were halted or slowed and refunds were delayed.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Even though the settlement is approved, appeals may still follow.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Passengers aboard a taxiing aircraft were reportedly left horrified last month when chilling screams suddenly echoed from beneath the cabin just moments before takeoff.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
14 Jan. 2026
-
The car chase, the chokehold, his own screams at the officers to leave his dad alone.—
Nicole Foy,
ProPublica,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cries. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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