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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wails
H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 6 Feb. 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
At times, the noise of grinding gears can obscure the soprano whoops and wails of the preschoolers.
—Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
The ear-splitting wails came from a little girl trying to get the star’s attention.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 3 Dec. 2025
People judge others for the precise pitch of their wails.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
So, on the night after the murder, the town’s streets were filled with anguished cries from the Inuit—wails of loss and pain.
—Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
Her wails make Davina recall her own confinement, where she was treated similarly awfully and responded by cursing the women in the room.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 5 Sep. 2025
Two sets of arms wrapped around me, more of his friends, holding me until my wails subsided.
—Kimberly Bridson, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2025
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
Noun
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.
—H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 6 Feb. 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
At times, the noise of grinding gears can obscure the soprano whoops and wails of the preschoolers.
—Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026
The ear-splitting wails came from a little girl trying to get the star’s attention.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 3 Dec. 2025
People judge others for the precise pitch of their wails.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
So, on the night after the murder, the town’s streets were filled with anguished cries from the Inuit—wails of loss and pain.
—Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
Her wails make Davina recall her own confinement, where she was treated similarly awfully and responded by cursing the women in the room.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 5 Sep. 2025
Two sets of arms wrapped around me, more of his friends, holding me until my wails subsided.
—Kimberly Bridson, Vogue, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wails
Noun
-
While the 27-year-old skater was brought to tears after seeing her final time, Paul was in the stands doing the same, surrounded by her family, who also couldn’t help but cry tears of joy.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Gripped with pain, tears streamed down her face the entire two-hour trip from the airport to her parents’ home in Albany.—
Lindsay Schnell,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The ball nestling into the net was greeted with the unique mix of cheers and groans in Viejas Arena that, to the gambling crowd, can mean only one thing.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The video ends as Chakraborty collapses onto a couch and groans in pain with the officer continuing to yell at him to drop the knife.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Kane often complains on social media that state gaming laws were constructed with traditional sportsbooks in mind, a process that failed to conceptualize exchanges.—
Dan Bernstein,
Sportico.com,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Other conversations sound quaint, like one where a bot complains about its human, while some are bizarre, such as one from a bot that claims to have a sister.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
At night, the desert comes alive with coyote howls, prowling skunks and the possibility of larger cats or black bears nearby.—
Joan Meiners,
AZCentral.com,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The wind howls, and the sound of the runners grinding over the ice is surprisingly loud.—
Nathan Pilling,
Kansas City Star,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Bergholm employs some very effective sound design here, giving just a hint of animalistic growling to the kid’s lusty cries.—
Catherine Bray,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The narrator cries, rages, longs for the living body and the lively boy, and obsesses over painful details, especially the bleak journey by sea that brought the remains of his beloved friend back home.—
Kathryn Schulz,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Under the new ordinance, the city would not be able to investigate claims of discrimination at all, instead referring residents who make complaints to other resources, or to applicable state and federal agencies.—
Emily Holshouser,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Jorge Arreaza, a lawmaker and former minister of foreign affairs, went outside and allowed some families of political prisoners inside to hear their complaints.—
Carmen Sesin,
NBC news,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
On paper, Proctor screams Eagles.—
Zach Berman,
New York Times,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Vonn lost control within moments of leaving the start house, clipping a gate with her right shoulder and pinwheeling down the slope before ending up awkwardly on her back, her skis crisscrossed below her and her screams ringing out soon after medical personnel arrived.—
ANDREW DAMPF,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wails.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wails. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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