Bawling — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb adjective /ˈbȯl/

Meaning & Definition of Bawling

Bawling (verb)

  1. to cry out loudly and unrestrainedly
  2. to cry loudly, wail
  3. to cry out at the top of one's voice
  4. to reprimand loudly or severely

Bawling (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in crying, sobbing

    similar: blubbering, crying, keening, sniffling, sniveling, sobbing, wailing, weeping, whimpering, maudlin, mawkish, sentimental, misty, misty-eyed, moist, demonstrative, effusive, emotional, bemoaning, bewailing, lachrymose, tearful, teary, weepy, doleful, dolorous, grieving, mournful, plaintive, funereal, gloomy, lugubrious, brokenhearted, dejected, depressed, despondent, disconsolate, downcast, downhearted, heartbroken, heartsick, heavyhearted, inconsolable, miserable, sad, sorrowful, woebegone, woeful, wretched
    opposite: beaming, chuckling, giggling, grinning, laughing, smiling, blithe, blithesome, cheerful, cheery, gay, happy, jocose, jovial, lighthearted, lightsome, merry, mirthful, sunny

Bawling (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to shed tears often while making meaningless sounds as a sign of pain or distress

    "he bawled for days after his dog died"

    similar: blubbering, blubbing (chiefly British), crying, sobbing, weeping
    related: greeting (Scottish), grieving, keening, lamenting, mourning, howling, screaming, squalling, wailing, yowling, bleating, mewling, puling, whimpering, whining, sniffling, sniveling, groaning, moaning, sighing

  2. to speak so as to be heard at a distance

    "the mover was bawling for help as the refrigerator was about to slip out of his hands"

    similar: baying, bellowing, calling, crying, hollering, holloing, roaring, shouting, sounding off, thundering, vociferating, yelling
    related: crowing, whooping, screaming, screeching, shrieking, shrilling, squeaking, squealing, caterwauling, howling, ululating, wailing, yawping, yowling, hailing, speaking out, speaking up
    near: breathing, mumbling, murmuring, muttering, whispering

Related Entry: Bawl (verb)

Bawl is a different word from Bawling. The synonyms below are for bawl, not for bawling.

  1. to shed tears often while making meaningless sounds as a sign of pain or distress

    "he bawled for days after his dog died"

    similar: blub (chiefly British), blubber, cry, sob, weep
    related: greet (Scottish), grieve, keen, lament, mourn, howl, scream, squall, wail, yowl, bleat, mewl, pule, whimper, whine, sniffle, snivel, groan, moan, sigh

  2. to speak so as to be heard at a distance

    "the mover was bawling for help as the refrigerator was about to slip out of his hands"

    similar: bay, bellow, call, cry, holler, hollo, roar, shout, sound off, thunder, vociferate, yell
    related: crow, whoop, scream, screech, shriek, shrill, squeak, squeal, caterwaul, howl, ululate, wail, yawp, yowl, hail, speak out, speak up
    near: breathe, mumble, murmur, mutter, whisper

Related Entry: Bawling out (verb)

Bawling out is a different word from Bawling. The synonyms below are for bawling out, not for bawling.

  1. to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings

    "got bawled out by the boss for missing another important deadline"

    similar: basting, berating, calling down, castigating, chastising, chewing out, dressing down, flaying, hammering, jawing, keelhauling, lambasting, lecturing, ragging, railing (at or against), ranting (at), rating, reaming (out), rebuking, reprimanding, reproaching, scolding, scoring, tongue-lashing, upbraiding, laying into, reading the riot act (to), taking to task
    related: admonishing, chiding, remonstrating (with), reproving, abusing, assailing, attacking, bad-mouthing, blaming, blasting, censuring, condemning, criticizing, crucifying, denouncing, dissing (slang), excoriating, faulting, haranguing, knocking, lacing (into), lashing, panning, reprehending, reviling, scourging, slamming, vituperating, belittling, disparaging, mocking, putting down, ridiculing, scoffing, scorning
    near: approving, endorsing, sanctioning, extolling, lauding, praising

Related Entry: Bawl out (verb)

Bawl out is a different word from Bawling. The synonyms below are for bawl out, not for bawling.

  1. to criticize (someone) severely or angrily especially for personal failings

    "got bawled out by the boss for missing another important deadline"

    similar: baste, berate, call down, castigate, chastise, chew out, dress down, flay, hammer, jaw, keelhaul, lambaste, lecture, rag, rail (at or against), rant (at), rate, ream (out), rebuke, reprimand, reproach, scold, score, tongue-lash, upbraid, lay into, read the riot act (to), take to task
    related: admonish, chide, remonstrate (with), reprove, abuse, assail, attack, bad-mouth, blame, blast, censure, condemn, criticize, crucify, denounce, dis (slang), excoriate, fault, harangue, knock, lace (into), lash, pan, reprehend, revile, scourge, slam, vituperate, belittle, disparage, mock, put down, ridicule, scoff, scorn
    near: approve, endorse, sanction, extol, laud, praise

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Bawling

The most common words with a similar meaning to Bawling:

Chiefly British: blubbing
blubbering, crying, keening, sniffling, sniveling, sobbing, wailing, weeping, whimpering, maudlin, mawkish, sentimental, misty, misty-eyed, moist, demonstrative, effusive, emotional, bemoaning, bewailing, lachrymose, tearful, teary, weepy, doleful, dolorous, grieving, mournful, plaintive, funereal, gloomy, lugubrious, brokenhearted, dejected, depressed, despondent, disconsolate, downcast, downhearted, heartbroken

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Bawling

Words with the opposite meaning of Bawling:

beaming, chuckling, giggling, grinning, laughing, smiling, blithe, blithesome, cheerful, cheery, gay, happy, jocose, jovial, lighthearted, lightsome, merry, mirthful, sunny

Related Words for Bawling

greeting, lamenting, mourning, howling, screaming, squalling, yowling, bleating, mewling, puling, whining, groaning, moaning, sighing, crowing, whooping, screeching, shrieking, shrilling, squeaking, squealing, caterwauling, ululating, yawping, hailing, speaking out, speaking up

Near Antonyms of Bawling

breathing, mumbling, murmuring, muttering, whispering

Word Forms of Bawling

Inflections: bawled, bawls, bawled out, bawling out, bawls out

Derived words: bawler (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Bawling

Middle English, to bark, probably of Germanic origin; akin to Icelandic baula to low

First known use: 1533i

Frequently Asked Questions about Bawling

What does "Bawling" mean?

"Bawling" means to cry out loudly and unrestrainedly. As an a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: to cry out loudly and unrestrainedly. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Bawling"?

Other words for "Bawling" include blubbering, crying, keening, sniffling, sniveling, sobbing, wailing and weeping. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Bawling" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Bawling"?

There are 88 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Bawling". Common alternatives include blubbering, crying, keening, sniffling, sniveling, sobbing, wailing, weeping, whimpering and maudlin.

What is the opposite of "Bawling"?

Antonyms of "Bawling" include beaming, chuckling, giggling, grinning, laughing, smiling, blithe and blithesome. Near antonyms include breathing, mumbling, murmuring and muttering.

How do you use "Bawling" in a sentence?

Examples of "Bawling" in a sentence: "he bawled for days after his dog died"; "the mover was bawling for help as the refrigerator was about to slip out of his hands".

Is "Bawling" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Bawling" can be used as a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Bawling"?

"Bawling" is pronounced /ˈbȯl/.

What is the origin of the word "Bawling"?

"Bawling" comes from Middle English, to bark, probably of Germanic origin; akin to Icelandic baula to low. First known use: 1533i.