1
as in groans
a long low sound indicating pain or grief
she uttered an agonized moan and clutched her stomach
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wails
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in whines
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in cries
to utter a moan
he moaned and cried for days after his dog, his only companion, died
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in complains
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
their son moaned whenever anyone asked him to do some work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of moans
Brody Miller,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
At the moment that B’Tselem says Hathaleen collapsed, the visuals are jostled but moans of pain can be heard.
—
Sam Metz,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
The song eventually escalates into a lecherous, breathless, glittering climax of incandescent synthesizers and melodic moans—an erotic asphyxiation depicted as utterly glorious.
—
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
Two microphones angle towards the duduk to capture resonant moans, creaks, squeaks and honks akin to the bridge’s.
—
Ruby Rosenthal,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Jan. 2026
Most of these are held in a tent, from which loud, ecstatic moans can be heard for seemingly miles around.
—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
26 Aug. 2025
Deeper into Cardoso’s forest, brown howler monkeys fill the viscous air with their guttural moans.
—
Mark Johanson,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Apr. 2022
Kevin McKeough,
Chicago Tribune,
7 June 2026
As the video continues, one person can be heard yelling her name while the makeup artist moans in pain.
—
Abigail Adams,
PEOPLE,
21 May 2026
The Freight House building creaks and moans underfoot, and passing trains produce little more than a subtle hum.
—
Nicole Letts,
Southern Living,
28 Feb. 2026
Back in the car, Albert moans and groans while Billie shrieks in panic.
—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Feb. 2026
Passersby hear its shrieks and moans from the road.
—
Judith Shulevitz,
The Atlantic,
17 Feb. 2026
Fennell begins on a black screen and the sound of creaks and moans.
—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Shannon moans right about the time Jenn walks out to see what the commotion is all about.
—
Peter Larsen,
Oc Register,
10 Oct. 2025
Noun
The moans announced the doubt throughout Riviera’s 18th green amphitheater, a bowl full of thousands of fans unsure if the new guy could do it.
—
Brody Miller,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
At the moment that B’Tselem says Hathaleen collapsed, the visuals are jostled but moans of pain can be heard.
—
Sam Metz,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
The song eventually escalates into a lecherous, breathless, glittering climax of incandescent synthesizers and melodic moans—an erotic asphyxiation depicted as utterly glorious.
—
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
Two microphones angle towards the duduk to capture resonant moans, creaks, squeaks and honks akin to the bridge’s.
—
Ruby Rosenthal,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Jan. 2026
Most of these are held in a tent, from which loud, ecstatic moans can be heard for seemingly miles around.
—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
26 Aug. 2025
Deeper into Cardoso’s forest, brown howler monkeys fill the viscous air with their guttural moans.
—
Mark Johanson,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Apr. 2022
Verb
Musselwhite punctuated the music with his harmonica trills and moans while his right knee bounced in time with the rhythms.
—
Kevin McKeough,
Chicago Tribune,
7 June 2026
As the video continues, one person can be heard yelling her name while the makeup artist moans in pain.
—
Abigail Adams,
PEOPLE,
21 May 2026
The Freight House building creaks and moans underfoot, and passing trains produce little more than a subtle hum.
—
Nicole Letts,
Southern Living,
28 Feb. 2026
Back in the car, Albert moans and groans while Billie shrieks in panic.
—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Feb. 2026
Passersby hear its shrieks and moans from the road.
—
Judith Shulevitz,
The Atlantic,
17 Feb. 2026
Fennell begins on a black screen and the sound of creaks and moans.
—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Shannon moans right about the time Jenn walks out to see what the commotion is all about.
—
Peter Larsen,
Oc Register,
10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moans
Noun
-
Young climbed into a box, which Strange then stabbed repeatedly, prompting groans from the audience.
-
Still, the night had enough laughs, groans and tender moments to keep things interesting.
Noun
-
After a second of consideration, Naim slams the grate shut to the monster’s wails, and the audience’s relief.
-
Her wails of pain were audible on TV broadcasts as medics tended to her before a helicopter finally carried her away.
Noun
-
The result was a menu of skin complaints – fungal, bacterial and otherwise.
-
Florida ranks third in overall internet fraud complaints, as well as third in money lost, according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center’s 2025 annual report.
Verb
-
If he had been forced to stick with readily available materials, Rashid complains, the deck behind the house would have been green or brown.
-
The document complains about trade, customs officers, juryless courts, and judges’ salaries.
Noun
-
Some waving flags, others wiping away tears, thousands have gathered in Tehran for the funeral of Iran’s former supreme leader.
-
In rare cases, extreme pressure can cause tears in the esophagus.
Noun
-
At the hospital in Dollow, mothers sat shoulder to shoulder on narrow beds holding frail children, some too weak to cry while others let out soft whimpers.
-
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.
Verb
-
Pig screams were no different from our screams.
-
Nothing screams summer like nautical stripes.
Noun
-
Such efforts at avoidance would lead to cries to apply payroll taxes to non-salary incomes such as dividends.
-
When Judge Miguel De La O announced his decision, an audible gasp and cries could be heard from Bland inside the courtroom.
Cite this Entry
“Moans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moans. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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