1
as in tears
a crying out in grief
a prolonged wail arose from every corner of the city as the victims of the earthquake were unearthed from the rubble
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in groans
a long low sound indicating pain or grief
rescuers heard a faint wail coming from the pile of rubble, a sure sign that one of the victims was still alive
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in whines
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment
a transit fare increase that is sure to bring wails from the straphangers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in complains
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely
the state's residents are always wailing about their high taxes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in moans
to utter a moan
the patient lay in her bed, occasionally softly wailing in pain
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 wails
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
19 June 2026
Her wails of pain were audible on TV broadcasts as medics tended to her before a helicopter finally carried her away.
—
Becky Sullivan,
NPR,
6 May 2026
Within moments, a smoke detector wails.
—
Cyrus Farivar,
ArsTechnica,
2 May 2026
Mitchell has made the point before that every new technology brings wails that the fish won’t survive.
—
Mike McFeely,
Twin Cities,
24 Apr. 2026
There was grit and grime to his feedback-heavy guitar wails, but there was sweep and grandeur too, more apparent on stage than on record.
—
Piet Levy,
jsonline.com,
28 Mar. 2026
Ride the thrill of Hostile Design’s passionate wails and percussion overload when the group headlines eight shows to kick off the new year, making their way across California, Rhode Island, Quebec, Ontario, Pennsylvania, and Illinois with the same energy that once fueled their humble beginnings.
—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
24 Mar. 2026
Maybe the wails and crushed dreams of American travelers will finally melt their hearts.
—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
In some, relatives are seen walking among the black bags, trying to identify the deceased, as wails and screams fill the background.
—
Molly Hunter,
NBC news,
30 Jan. 2026
ABC News,
28 Feb. 2026
Anna wails, determined to separate the pair at any cost and not lacking in support from the others.
—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
14 Feb. 2026
As Electridad wails for justice, her brother Orestes spends his time in exile with Nino (Luis Medina), a move made by his late father in probable anticipation of his demise.
—
Zach Dennis,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Aug. 2025
The Ferrari hybrid, for its part, still wails like a La Scala tenor to an emotional, 8,000-rpm peak.
—
IEEE Spectrum,
29 Mar. 2022
Noun
After a second of consideration, Naim slams the grate shut to the monster’s wails, and the audience’s relief.
—
Arushi Jacob,
Variety,
19 June 2026
Her wails of pain were audible on TV broadcasts as medics tended to her before a helicopter finally carried her away.
—
Becky Sullivan,
NPR,
6 May 2026
Within moments, a smoke detector wails.
—
Cyrus Farivar,
ArsTechnica,
2 May 2026
Mitchell has made the point before that every new technology brings wails that the fish won’t survive.
—
Mike McFeely,
Twin Cities,
24 Apr. 2026
There was grit and grime to his feedback-heavy guitar wails, but there was sweep and grandeur too, more apparent on stage than on record.
—
Piet Levy,
jsonline.com,
28 Mar. 2026
Ride the thrill of Hostile Design’s passionate wails and percussion overload when the group headlines eight shows to kick off the new year, making their way across California, Rhode Island, Quebec, Ontario, Pennsylvania, and Illinois with the same energy that once fueled their humble beginnings.
—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
24 Mar. 2026
Maybe the wails and crushed dreams of American travelers will finally melt their hearts.
—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
In some, relatives are seen walking among the black bags, trying to identify the deceased, as wails and screams fill the background.
—
Molly Hunter,
NBC news,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
Another voice wails in the background.
—
ABC News,
28 Feb. 2026
Anna wails, determined to separate the pair at any cost and not lacking in support from the others.
—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
14 Feb. 2026
As Electridad wails for justice, her brother Orestes spends his time in exile with Nino (Luis Medina), a move made by his late father in probable anticipation of his demise.
—
Zach Dennis,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Aug. 2025
The Ferrari hybrid, for its part, still wails like a La Scala tenor to an emotional, 8,000-rpm peak.
—
IEEE Spectrum,
29 Mar. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wails
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
-
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
-
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.
-
At the moment that B’Tselem says Hathaleen collapsed, the visuals are jostled but moans of pain can be heard.
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.
Verb
-
Up in the stands, fans waved their own flags — including some sneaked in over the objections of FIFA and the courts — and wrestled with emotions, as boos, howls and hisses rained down from all corners of the stadium.
-
Roaring and grunting, his body sleek with blood and sweat, Conan tussles and grapples with a series of opponents, dominating them all, while an audience of torch-wielding vulgarians shouts and howls at the pit’s lip.
Verb
-
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.
-
Jennifer Brook cries her own tears for her husband.
Noun
-
These rock lamentations will not be carried over to the full-length album the band still has in the works, which Bono promises will have a more joyful tone.
-
The album’s Bandcamp blurb shouts out Ghédalia Tarzatès, the late French composer who collaged his wails and lamentations in the endangered Ladino language to evoke pangs of existential angst.
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.
Cite this Entry
“Wails.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wails. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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