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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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
Richard Edwards, Space.com, 17 Feb. 2025
Tonally registering as if carved from a medium-hard piece of oak, his transparent deliveries — mellow whispers, conversational assertions, longing moans, resolute cries — served as effective vessels for those character sketches and autobiographical reflections.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2025
Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 19 Mar. 2025
Thompson and Nwodim moaned as Gardner said a customer was shot during an argument over Drake and Kendrick.
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for moan
Noun
None of these moans are intended to dismiss the importance of clever in-jokes and references to past adventures.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 17 Feb. 2025
Tonally registering as if carved from a medium-hard piece of oak, his transparent deliveries — mellow whispers, conversational assertions, longing moans, resolute cries — served as effective vessels for those character sketches and autobiographical reflections.
—Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2025
Verb
At the time of its release, fancy people who considered themselves film aficionados moaned that Dumb and Dumber was the beginning of the end of civilization.
—Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 19 Mar. 2025
Thompson and Nwodim moaned as Gardner said a customer was shot during an argument over Drake and Kendrick.
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for moan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moan
Noun
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One of three childhood friends reunited for an extravagant girl’s weekend, Laurie has contained a simmering sadness and rage since the first episode, when seeing her besties, Jaclyn and Kate, chatting and laughing sent her into a wail of despair.—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
7 Apr. 2025
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Expect to hear the unmistakable wail of a vintage F1 car echoing across the speedway, the guttural roar of classic V8s ripping through gears, and the shriek of modern hypercars proving their worth on the track.—
Greg Engle,
Forbes.com,
2 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The motor produces a whine that is noticeable but not distracting.—
William Roberson,
Forbes,
17 Mar. 2025
-
Israel Hernandez heard the faint whine of sirens outside his Wilmington apartment and looked up just in time to see a minivan crash into another vehicle as police gave chase.—
Libor Jany,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The audience groaned upon hearing about Jelly's bothersome habit.—
Marina Watts,
People.com,
18 Apr. 2025
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When the first two rounds of 10% tariffs hit, Zou Guoqing, a Chinese exporter, groaned but didn't find the barriers insurmountable.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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In another email to Instagram leaders in 2017, Systrom complained that Instagram got no new headcount despite a wide investment to grow the company’s video ambitions.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
22 Apr. 2025
-
Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins complained to public broadcaster Radio New Zealand that the bill is only meant to grab attention.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In any case, despite critics’ cries of greenwashing and corporate astroturfing, there is still value to these devices.—
Kat Merck,
Wired News,
22 Apr. 2025
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This tender and slow hour isn’t for the restless, but a cathartic cry waits for those who make it to the end.—
Christian Holub,
EW.com,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The figure is only representative of information and complaints submitted by victims to the IC3, FBI officials confirmed.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
24 Apr. 2025
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In an exhibit to HSM’s complaint, the marketing advance is detailed.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The audience screamed in approval for the coming out, as seen in a TikTok from the show.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them.,
24 Apr. 2025
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Benintendi then fouled off a fastball before ripping the next and sending it screaming toward the gap in right-center.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Biblical-style lamentations over Israel’s final corruption have been a staple of the state’s critics and die-hard anti-Zionists for 70 years.—
Martin Kramer,
Foreign Affairs,
8 June 2016
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One third of the way into Katie Kitamura’s 2017 novel, A Separation, its narrator asks an elderly Greek woman to demonstrate a traditional funeral lamentation.—
Lidija Haas,
Harper's Magazine,
3 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Moan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moan. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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