wailing 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of wailingnext
as in weeping
expressing or suggesting mourning a wailing quality in her voice that makes her a natural for country music

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

wailing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of wail
1
as in screaming
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely the state's residents are always wailing about their high taxes

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2
as in howling
to make a long loud mournful sound the women stood beside the coffins, wailing for their fallen sons and daughters

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3
as in moaning
to utter a moan the patient lay in her bed, occasionally softly wailing in pain

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wailing
  1. weeping
  2. howling
  3. mournful
  4. complaining
  5. funeral
  6. whining
  7. heartbroken
Adjective
  • And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.
    David Mamet, National Review, 11 Aug. 2022
  • The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.
    Helen Shaw, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2021
Definition of weeping
Verb
  • The name Wolf Moon comes from the sound of wolves howling during this season, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.
    Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 27 Dec. 2024
  • This includes destructive behavior such as chewing and destroying furniture as well as things like howling and barking.
    Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
Definition of howling
Adjective
  • Her observations as a woman once romantically involved with the two of them at the same time, confirm their masculine inability to speak their feelings out loud unless they are veiled in mournful songs.
    Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 28 Nov. 2024
  • Very few directors working today can put across a movie like Gladiator II as convincingly, which perhaps explains why the sequel — for all its barbaric violence and the plaintive, at times stirring, discussions about justice and democracy — doesn’t have the mournful quality that the first film did.
    Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 22 Nov. 2024
Definition of mournful
Verb
  • The Buccaneers started complaining to the officials about fouls.
    CJ Moore, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
  • That first-round pick became Merriman (although, the Giants aren't complaining).
    Ryan Morik, Fox News, 8 Jan. 2025
Definition of complaining
Adjective
  • Ivana's funeral mass was held in New York City and attended by her ex-husband and their three children: Donald Jr., 46; Ivanka, 43 and Eric, 40.
    Colson Thayer, People.com, 31 Dec. 2024
  • Similarly, ancient Greek and Roman mourners often carried sprigs of rosemary in funeral processions and placed them on the body of the deceased at the burial site.
    Nina Foster, JSTOR Daily, 20 Dec. 2024
Definition of funeral
Verb
  • The whining about everyone else didn’t help, either.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 31 Dec. 2024
  • Stop whining and thank your lucky stars for having a job.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
Definition of whining
Adjective
  • Willow Avalon The metaphorical equivalent of a heartbroken singer-songwriter debutante ball is attacking live stages and streaming platforms in overwhelming waves.
    Audrey Gibbs, The Tennessean, 29 Dec. 2024
  • However, our team is heartbroken to know these new horses have been without proper food and care for so long.
    Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 20 Dec. 2024
Definition of heartbroken
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Thesaurus Entries Near wailing

wailfully

wailing

wailing (for)

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“Wailing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wailing. Accessed 9 Jan. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on wailing

Nglish: Translation of wailing for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of wailing for Arabic Speakers

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