1
as in sobs
to shed tears often while making meaningless sounds as a sign of pain or distress
some kids started to cry even before the doctor had given them their shot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
3
as in shouts
to speak so as to be heard at a distance
a mother crying for help
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in howls
a loud vocal expression of strong emotion
a cry of despair arose when the smoke of the bomb blast cleared
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in calls
a natural vocal sound made by an animal
the lonesome cry of a coyote
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in slogans
an attention-getting word or phrase used to publicize something (as a campaign or product)
"A chance to change America" was the cry on which the candidate was hoping to win the White House
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in appeals
an earnest request
the king was deaf to their cries
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in screams
a sudden short emotional utterance
cries of disbelief greeted the announcement of the surprise winner for best picture
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of cries
Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026
In the spot, Shane sits in a middle seat next to a chatty flier while a baby cries in the background.
—Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
New phone footage leaked to TMZ appears to show Paul putting Mortensen in a choke hold and hurling metal chairs at him; a child cries.
—Rebecca Jennings, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
Many first-time parents worry about how others might react if a baby cries on a flight, but experienced travelers say those concerns are often unnecessary, Kay said.
—Dallas Morning News, 13 Mar. 2026
An old movie in which a character cries at old movies takes an even faster path to tears, yet even then, age is the subject.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
Néfissa cries loudly and with anguish about her son, but refuses to acknowledge his truth.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Paranoia and loneliness are what I'm left clinging to as my husband cries in the room next door.
—Mason Leib, ABC News, 2 Feb. 2026
As the child incessantly cries day and night, Henry begins to have surreal visions that only an innovative mind like Lynch's could devise.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Jan. 2026
Steve Doerschuk, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
That, of course, and the occasional ghostly presences, unsettling cries, and blood dripping from the ceiling.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2026
Two hikers who heard her cries rushed in and called 911.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2026
The girl responded through cries that her mom was locked inside a bathroom.
—Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
His funeral drew hundreds of first responders, marching in a seaside procession in the Mediterranean city of Tyre, his mother's cries heard over the shuffle.
—Lauren Frayer, NPR, 5 Apr. 2026
Sean said the dogs knocked his mother to the ground and continued attacking her as a passerby, who heard her cries from about a block away, rushed over on a bicycle to help.
—Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026
Ave Maria, Florida — One Wednesday this month, loud cries erupted from two teenage girls huddled over a cellphone in the parking lot of a local supermarket.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026
The episode ends as John walks out among Carolyn’s cries.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 20 Mar. 2026
Verb
By the beginning of the second episode, Margo has dropped out of school and is the totally broke single mother to a colicky baby, Bodhi, who cries so committedly that two of Margo’s roommates move out.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 23 Apr. 2026
In the spot, Shane sits in a middle seat next to a chatty flier while a baby cries in the background.
—Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
New phone footage leaked to TMZ appears to show Paul putting Mortensen in a choke hold and hurling metal chairs at him; a child cries.
—Rebecca Jennings, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
Many first-time parents worry about how others might react if a baby cries on a flight, but experienced travelers say those concerns are often unnecessary, Kay said.
—Dallas Morning News, 13 Mar. 2026
An old movie in which a character cries at old movies takes an even faster path to tears, yet even then, age is the subject.
—Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026
Néfissa cries loudly and with anguish about her son, but refuses to acknowledge his truth.
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Paranoia and loneliness are what I'm left clinging to as my husband cries in the room next door.
—Mason Leib, ABC News, 2 Feb. 2026
As the child incessantly cries day and night, Henry begins to have surreal visions that only an innovative mind like Lynch's could devise.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Jan. 2026
Noun
After football killed 19 college players in 1905, Roosevelt resisted cries to outlaw the game and supported rule changes.
—Steve Doerschuk, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
That, of course, and the occasional ghostly presences, unsettling cries, and blood dripping from the ceiling.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2026
Two hikers who heard her cries rushed in and called 911.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2026
The girl responded through cries that her mom was locked inside a bathroom.
—Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 8 Apr. 2026
His funeral drew hundreds of first responders, marching in a seaside procession in the Mediterranean city of Tyre, his mother's cries heard over the shuffle.
—Lauren Frayer, NPR, 5 Apr. 2026
Sean said the dogs knocked his mother to the ground and continued attacking her as a passerby, who heard her cries from about a block away, rushed over on a bicycle to help.
—Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026
Ave Maria, Florida — One Wednesday this month, loud cries erupted from two teenage girls huddled over a cellphone in the parking lot of a local supermarket.
—Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 23 Mar. 2026
The episode ends as John walks out among Carolyn’s cries.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cries
Verb
-
Cassie, who doesn’t seem very concerned about Nate, sobs on the floor in disbelief, covered in blood and shocked that someone could disrupt what should be the perfect end to her evening.—
Zoe Papelis,
Vulture,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The glow of hundreds of candles illuminated somber faces, sobs often cutting through the silence in the crisp spring air.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Meanwhile, Charlie Puth sings his heart out at his Whatever's Clever!—
Katie Hill,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
-
There are few musicians better suited to celebrate International Jazz Day than San Diego’s Allison Tucker Adams, who sings adeptly in six languages.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This grand procession of Edmonia’s work is an act of reclamation—a gathering in her name that shouts through stone and into the eons.—
Tyehimba Jess,
ARTnews.com,
17 Apr. 2026
-
William shouts that someone DID come looking!—
Lincee Ray,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Such prices have set off howls of protest from some fans.—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
My 2-year-old daughter’s howls of protest echoed through the previously silent forest of towering Norway spruce.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Inning-ending calls have been overturned, giving hitters another opportunity that, in some cases, has led to game-changing home runs.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Since April 1, the Porter County E 911 operators have held onto and not transferred 911 calls to the Chesterton/Porter joint dispatch center.—
Amy Lavalley,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Two protesters briefly took over a small red carpet where guests were lined up to take professional photos; Times reporters saw a third woman dressed in a formal gown and shouting protest slogans being escorted out by security guards after apparently having entered the event.—
Justine McDaniel,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Both slogans are regularly used by pro-Palestinian protesters and are highly controversial.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But appeals to return it have grown with the rise of social media, most notably after Queen Elizabeth II died almost four years ago.—
Doha Madani,
NBC news,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Years of appeals followed and he was resentenced to death in 1988, 1993 and 1996.—
Jeffrey Collins,
Sun Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Some reported hearing the same unnerving screams in other parts of the state.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Heard some screams, plates, glasses, silverware hitting the ground, and then everybody was yelling, get down.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cries. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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