wailed

verb

past tense of wail
1
as in complained
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 howled
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 moaned
to utter a moan the patient lay in her bed, occasionally softly wailing in pain

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of wailed Ambulances were seen leaving the hospital to bring the children's bodies home as mourners wept and wailed. — Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026 Ambulances were seen leaving the hospital to bring the children’s bodies home as mourners wept and wailed. — Riaz Khan, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026 When his mother-in-law arrived at the home soon after, Flynn wailed and collapsed on the front porch, bodycam footage showed. — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026 After her coffin was lowered into the grave and coral stones were arranged on top, her firstborn son, aged 5, was led to it and wailed. — ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026 The rocker took a step back from his usual double duty as lead singer and guitarist, opting to shred voraciously as Robinson wailed on the mic. — Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 24 July 2026 Fans wailed outside St James’ and Keegan stood on the steps to placate them, but then Les Ferdinand arrived and another Hollywood-upon-Tyne took shape. — George Caulkin, New York Times, 21 July 2026 Others complained their ears still rang from how hard their children wailed for AC, a plea the women denied them in the interest of saving on utility bills. — Danielle Parker, CBS News, 30 June 2026 Kimiya wailed as the bio-andy moved toward the gaping hole. — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 26 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wailed
  1. complained
  2. howled
  3. moaned
  4. screamed
  5. groaned
  6. whined
  7. sobbed
  8. muttered
Verb
  • Some bettors have complained about customer service and payout issues being unresolved due to difficulties reaching a live person.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Colorado officials report that more than 100 people across Boulder County have also complained to the Federal Communications Commission.
    — Sarah Horbacewicz, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of complained
Verb
  • Temperatures in the area were in the mid-90s and winds howled with gusts of up to 35 mph, a less-than-ideal situation for firefighters.
    — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The killings had begun, and the few protesters still waiting in the cold rain howled, their worst nightmares finally made real.
    — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of howled
Verb
  • Coach Arne Slot moaned about VAR but his problems lie much closer to home.
    — Phil Hay, New York Times, 4 May 2026
  • Critics moaned when the CFP committee picked the Hurricanes over Notre Dame as the last Power 4 entry into the playoffs.
    — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2026
Definition of moaned
Verb
  • Peralta pumped a fist and screamed joyfully walking off the mound in the sixth after fanning Petey Halpin swinging at a 3-2 changeup.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Back in California, Dodgers fans screamed at their television sets.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of screamed
Verb
  • The roar of the engines vibrated through the fuselage, rattling bones and teeth, while supply crates shifted and groaned with every lurch.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Carruthers groaned in pain and blood oozed from puncture wounds, DeLiberato said in a news briefing.
    — Catherine Sweeney, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of groaned
Verb
  • Post-Covid, Hollywood has whined about the falloff for MPA fare in Pan Asian territories, particularly the once-robust South Korea.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 28 July 2026
  • After a few casts, Rubye’s rod bent, and the reel whined as line spooled out.
    — John Todd, Outdoor Life, 9 July 2026
Definition of whined
Verb
  • Five players and the referee tried to catch it, Steph recalled, while its owner sobbed on the sidelines.
    — Vanda Mayer, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Minutes before he was sentenced Monday to life in prison for the murder of his wife, Caleb Flynn sobbed as his in-laws read letters written by his two daughters, asking him heartbreaking questions about their mother’s death.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of sobbed
Verb
  • The camera then cut to McCarthy, who muttered a profanity in response.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Heti stared at the drawing in front of her and muttered whatever under her breath.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of muttered

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wail
wailed
wailed (for)
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Cite this Entry

“Wailed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wailed. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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