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
Dawn White, CBS News, 28 May 2026
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
Sean Emery, Oc Register, 1 June 2026
Then, the cries of Ginny’s baby are a major wake-up call for the couple that can’t be ignored.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 28 May 2026
The house band drums intensify, a violin cries and guitar chords growl.
—Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026
Wails pierce the air in a mix of lyrical song and unrestrained cries; a group of mourners wave leafy branches and beat them against the ground in a rhythm.
—ABC News, 18 May 2026
Rallying cries were common before key games, particularly those where Everton’s top-flight status was on the line.
—Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 15 May 2026
Shaina Montiel says her mother stills cries thinking about her harrowing experience with hantavirus at age 5, which, according to the CDC, can have a fatality rate up to 38%, depending on the type of syndrome caused by it.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 12 May 2026
Passengers later described hearing faint cries in the distance—moments that confirmed both individuals were still alive.
—Staff Author, PEOPLE, 6 May 2026
The trail eventually tilts back down toward the city, where car honks and train horns replace the cries of birds and insects.
—John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 4 May 2026
Verb
Jennifer Brook cries her own tears for her husband.
—Dawn White, CBS News, 28 May 2026
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
Noun
Hearing her mothers’ cries, the 11-year-old apparently came to her aid.
—Sean Emery, Oc Register, 1 June 2026
Then, the cries of Ginny’s baby are a major wake-up call for the couple that can’t be ignored.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 28 May 2026
The house band drums intensify, a violin cries and guitar chords growl.
—Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2026
Wails pierce the air in a mix of lyrical song and unrestrained cries; a group of mourners wave leafy branches and beat them against the ground in a rhythm.
—ABC News, 18 May 2026
Rallying cries were common before key games, particularly those where Everton’s top-flight status was on the line.
—Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 15 May 2026
Shaina Montiel says her mother stills cries thinking about her harrowing experience with hantavirus at age 5, which, according to the CDC, can have a fatality rate up to 38%, depending on the type of syndrome caused by it.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 12 May 2026
Passengers later described hearing faint cries in the distance—moments that confirmed both individuals were still alive.
—Staff Author, PEOPLE, 6 May 2026
The trail eventually tilts back down toward the city, where car honks and train horns replace the cries of birds and insects.
—John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 4 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cries
Verb
-
Later that day, Jamison sobs in bed while her mom and dad worry about her chances of getting into Stanford if she's reported to the police.—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 June 2026
-
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
Verb
-
His older daughter, Dahlia, sings one of the songs from the musical.—
Mo Rocca,
CBS News,
24 May 2026
-
The multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter, who rocks an early era Maxwell ‘fro, plays drums, plucks bass, and sings about the ups and downs of love and consumerism on his new album, LK99.—
Elise Brisco,
Rolling Stone,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Patchett shouts out fellow authors in the novel, including George Saunders, Paul Murray and Kiran Desai.—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
2 June 2026
-
As promised, Ali shoots him, and as everyone panics and hits the floor, Ali shouts that Alamo Brown needs to come out.—
Selome Hailu,
Variety,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
At that point, a loud drum fill announces itself, snarling electric guitars kick in and McCartney’s trademark howls of old arrive in time for a fairly kick-ass chorus.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
23 May 2026
-
It’s installed bioacoustic cameras in Yellowstone to track wolves and analyze their howls.—
Alex Morris,
Rolling Stone,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
That spike owes to a significant increase in visitors arriving by sea and the recovery in cruise ship calls, Ishigaki’s municipal government said.—
Wayne Chang,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
-
After a night that featured 38 foul calls and a gritty Connecticut team determined to make a statement in Atlanta, the Dream clinched a 91-74 win over the Sun in a back-and-forth matchup that started rough but ended on a high note in their first Commissioner’s Cup game.—
Micahya Costen,
AJC.com,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Elsewhere, a set dressed like the streets of 18th-century Paris for flashback scenes has hay and dirt scattered everywhere, stale bread and limp vegetables in wooden carts, and French Revolution slogans painted on the walls.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
2 June 2026
-
On Monday, hundreds of youths marched to the gates of the air base, chanting anti-Ebola slogans.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
The attorney general's office is committed to defending these convictions through the appeals process.—
Jennifer McRae,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
-
Presumably those are the appeals of marshmallows.—
Byron W. Dalrymple,
Outdoor Life,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Once seated, the crowd roared each time a member of the cast walked in, with the biggest screams by far going not to Anderson or co-star Assad Zaman but Eric Bogosian, who at 73 plays the youngest vampire of the season, Daniel Molloy.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
3 June 2026
-
Literature, in his view, was a susurrus of stifled screams, a missive from the netherworld of the collective imaginary.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cries. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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