Wail — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈwāl/

Meaning & Definition of Wail

Wail (verb)

  1. to express sorrow audibly, lament
  2. to make a sound suggestive of a mournful cry
  3. to express dissatisfaction plaintively, complain

Wail (noun)

  1. a usually prolonged cry or sound expressing grief or pain
  2. a sound suggestive of wailing
  3. a querulous expression of grievance, complaint

Wail (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: groan, howl, keen, lament, lamentation, moan, plaint
    related: cry, sob, tears, agonizing, grieving, mourning, sorrowing, suffering, weeping, hand-wringing, regret, complaint, cri de coeur, outcry, protest, anguish, dolor, grief, heartache, heartbreak, sorrow, woe
    opposite: exultation, rejoicing
    near: cheering, laughing, smiling

  2. 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"

    similar: groan, moan
    related: blubbering, crying, sniveling, sobbing, weeping, whimpering, whining, yammering, keen, lament, lamentation, plaint, bawl, cry, howl, shriek, squall, whimper, whine, yelp, yowl
    near: cackle, chortle, chuckle, giggle, guffaw, laugh, snicker, snigger, titter, twitter

  3. an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment

    "a transit fare increase that is sure to bring wails from the straphangers"

    similar: beef, bitch, bleat, carp, complaint, fuss, grievance, gripe, grouch, grouse, grumble, holler, kvetch, lament, miserere, moan, murmur, plaint, squawk, whimper, whine, whinge (British), yammer
    related: challenge, demur, expostulation, kick, niggle (chiefly British), objection, protest, quibble, remonstrance, stink
    near: commendation, compliment, plaudit, acclaim, applause, praise, approval, endorsement, sanction

Wail (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely

    "the state's residents are always wailing about their high taxes"

    similar: beef, bellyache, bitch, bleat, carp, caterwaul, complain, crab, croak, fuss, gripe, grizzle, grouch, grouse, growl, grumble, grump, holler, inveigh, keen, kick, kvetch, maunder (chiefly British), moan, murmur, mutter, nag, repine, scream, squawk, squeal, whimper, whine, whinge (British), yammer, yawp, yowl, kick up a fuss
    related: object (to), protest, quarrel (with), cavil, quibble, fret, stew, worry, blubber, cry, sob, bemoan, bewail, deplore, lament
    opposite: crow, delight, rejoice
    near: accept, bear, countenance, endure, take, tolerate, applaud, cheer, commend

  2. to make a long loud mournful sound

    "the women stood beside the coffins, wailing for their fallen sons and daughters"

    similar: bay, howl, keen, ululate, yowl
    related: bawl, caterwaul, scream, screech, shriek, shrill, squall, squeal, yawp, yell, yelp

  3. to utter a moan

    "the patient lay in her bed, occasionally softly wailing in pain"

    similar: groan, moan
    related: blubber, cry, sob, weep, sniff, snivel, whimper, whine, bemoan, bewail, deplore, keen, lament, rue, agonize, anguish, bleed, grieve, hurt, mourn, sorrow, suffer, bawl, howl, shriek, squall, yammer, yelp, yowl
    near: cackle, chortle, chuckle, crack up, giggle, guffaw, laugh, snicker, titter, twitter

Related Entry: Wail (for) (verb)

Wail (for) is a different word from Wail. The synonyms below are for wail (for), not for wail.

  1. to feel or express sorrow for

    "her grandfather asked her not to wail for him, saying that he had had a good life and was at peace"

    similar: bemoan, bewail, deplore, grieve (for), lament, mourn
    related: elegize, cry (for), keen, moan, weep, regret, rue, bawl, blubber, sob, agonize, bleed, hurt, sorrow, suffer
    opposite: delight, exult (in), glory (in), joy, rejoice (in)
    near: beam, cheer, grin, laugh, smile

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Wail

The most common words with a similar meaning to Wail:

British: whinge
Chiefly British: maunder
groan, howl, keen, lament, lamentation, moan, plaint, beef, bitch, bleat, carp, complaint, fuss, grievance, gripe, grouch, grouse, grumble, holler, kvetch, miserere, murmur, squawk, whimper, whine, yammer, bellyache, caterwaul, complain, crab, croak, grizzle, growl, grump, inveigh, kick, mutter, nag, repine, scream

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Wail

Words with the opposite meaning of Wail:

exultation, rejoicing, crow, delight, rejoice

Related Words for Wail

cry, sob, tears, agonizing, grieving, mourning, sorrowing, suffering, weeping, hand-wringing, regret, cri de coeur, outcry, protest, anguish, dolor, grief, heartache, heartbreak, sorrow, woe, blubbering, crying, sniveling, sobbing, whimpering, whining, yammering, bawl, shriek

Near Antonyms of Wail

cheering, laughing, smiling, cackle, chortle, chuckle, giggle, guffaw, laugh, snicker, snigger, titter, twitter, commendation, compliment, plaudit, acclaim, applause, praise, approval, endorsement, sanction, accept, bear, countenance, endure, take, tolerate, applaud, cheer

Word Forms of Wail

Inflections: wailed, wailing, wails

Derived words: wailer (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Wail

Middle English weilen, waylen, perhaps modification (influenced by Middle English weilawei wellaway) of Old Norse væla, vāla to wail; akin to Old Norse vei woe woe

First known use: 14th centuryi

Frequently Asked Questions about Wail

What does "Wail" mean?

"Wail" means to express sorrow audibly, lament. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to express sorrow audibly, lament. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Wail"?

Other words for "Wail" include groan, howl, keen, lament, lamentation, moan, plaint and beef. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Wail" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Wail"?

There are 111 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Wail". Common alternatives include groan, howl, keen, lament, lamentation, moan, plaint, beef, bitch and bleat.

What is the opposite of "Wail"?

Antonyms of "Wail" include exultation, rejoicing, crow, delight and rejoice. Near antonyms include cheering, laughing, smiling and cackle.

How do you use "Wail" in a sentence?

Examples of "Wail" in a sentence: "a prolonged wail arose from every corner of the city as the victims of the earthquake were unearthed from the rubble"; "rescuers heard a faint wail coming from the pile of rubble, a sure sign that one of the victims was still alive"; "a transit fare increase that is sure to bring wails from the straphangers".

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

"Wail" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Wail"?

"Wail" is pronounced /ˈwāl/.

What is the origin of the word "Wail"?

"Wail" comes from Middle English weilen, waylen, perhaps modification (influenced by Middle English weilawei wellaway) of Old Norse væla, vāla to wail; akin to Old Norse vei woe woe. First known use: 14th centuryi.