1
as in groan
a long low sound indicating pain or grief
she uttered an agonized moan and clutched her stomach
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wail
a crying out in grief
moans arose from the crowd as the funeral procession for the well-loved senator made its way down the street
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3
as in whine
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment
the crowd responded with a moan when it was announced that the rest of the show would be cancelled due to the weather
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1
as in to groan
to utter a moan
he moaned and cried for days after his dog, his only companion, died
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2
as in to complain
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
their son moaned whenever anyone asked him to do some work
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of moan
Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 17 Apr. 2025
This time, Mary looked famine-struck and spoke mostly in pained moans.
—Sarah Stillman, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
In fact, regulars’ favorite thing to moan about, year after year, is the ever-mounting cost of Carnival fete tickets and costumes.
—Baz Dreisinger, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for moan
Noun
The audience thought his moans were all part of the act.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 17 Apr. 2025
This time, Mary looked famine-struck and spoke mostly in pained moans.
—Sarah Stillman, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
Having been browbeaten by the negativity of previous coaches Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, having a manager who didn't dismiss the idea the team could be title challengers or moan about a lack of talent was refreshing.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
In fact, regulars’ favorite thing to moan about, year after year, is the ever-mounting cost of Carnival fete tickets and costumes.
—Baz Dreisinger, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for moan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moan
Noun
-
After about seven minutes — and two more rounds of Narcan — the wail of sirens are finally heard.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
30 May 2025
-
The driving force at the center of almost all the show’s best numbers is Webb’s voice, which is a marvelous instrument for this music, equally capable of delivering touching tenderness or a velvety wail of triumphant transcendence.—
Rob Hubbard,
Twin Cities,
15 May 2025
Noun
-
On my final evening after the game drive, a flute whines and drums thump in the distance.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
23 May 2025
-
Roxy doesn't take her eyes from the screen, and when Aishah turns the camera to show what's happening in the movie, Roxy can be heard making a noise somewhere between a growl and a whine.—
Mohammed Soliman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The treetops groaned with wind created by the force of the megafire.—
Jordan Thomas
May 28,
Literary Hub,
28 May 2025
-
Serious bettors and the people who heard a tip from a friend alike were heavily invested in the day’s earlier races, watching intently on TVs above the wager window and cheering or groaning as horses made their way down the homestretch.—
Rohan Nadkarni,
NBC news,
4 May 2025
Verb
-
Patterson complained about her in-laws behind their backs Erin and Simon Patterson got married in 2007 and, after splitting and reconciling multiple times over the years, separated permanently in 2015.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
7 June 2025
-
Occasionally, drivers call the CHP to complain — especially during rush hour.—
Tina Li,
Sacbee.com,
7 June 2025
Noun
-
Surveillance footage from the home reviewed by investigators allegedly showed the foster mother punching the toddler in the head, yanking her by her hair so violently that the child's head struck floors and furniture, hitting her with a wooden spoon and covering her mouth to silence her cries.—
Christina Coulter,
People.com,
12 June 2025
-
Here, the actress recalls some of her favorite career memories, the part that got away, and the film that always makes her cry.—
Antonia Blyth,
Deadline,
11 June 2025
Noun
-
That’s the first time taxes have topped the list of complaints since December 2020.—
Brandon Kochkodin,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
-
The complaint argues that CAA’s trade secrets are essential to making the company — and the industry — run.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
10 June 2025
Verb
-
Leonardo DiCaprio’s screaming to the top of his lungs.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
9 June 2025
-
Medvedev added, including an emoji of a screaming face.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 June 2025
Noun
-
Give us your final lamentations on this year’s crop of cancellations in a comment below.—
Dave Nemetz,
TVLine,
21 May 2025
-
Their music is neither celebration nor lamentation.—
Amir Husain,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Moan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moan. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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