1
as in to cry
to shed tears often while making meaningless sounds as a sign of pain or distress
he bawled for days after his dog died
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to yell
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bawl
Washington Post, 21 July 2021
Distillers bury their faces in their hands and bawl after learning MLB’s winter meetings will go virtual.
—Nick Canepa Columnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Oct. 2020
Jeremy Engle, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2024
The beagles had been ranging in the swamp for less than 10 minutes when Mutt bawled loud and clear on a red-hot track.
—Erwin A. Bauer, Outdoor Life, 25 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for bawl
Verb
That night, Faris saw a woman near her bawl and wide-eyed grown-ups run.
—Washington Post, 21 July 2021
Distillers bury their faces in their hands and bawl after learning MLB’s winter meetings will go virtual.
—Nick Canepa Columnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Oct. 2020
Noun
Instead, similar to other animals, newborn babies produce a heartbreaking (and ear-piercing) bawl.
—Jeremy Engle, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2024
The beagles had been ranging in the swamp for less than 10 minutes when Mutt bawled loud and clear on a red-hot track.
—Erwin A. Bauer, Outdoor Life, 25 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for bawl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bawl
Verb
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Studio execs cry that more ads contribute to a less-than premium experience at the movies.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
4 July 2025
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Towards the end of his 10-minute presentation, Thompson suddenly became overwhelmed with emotion and, after a brief pause, began to cry.—
Chris Spargo,
People.com,
3 July 2025
Verb
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Melvin Harris, 65, recalls the neighbors yelling in the early hours of Friday.—
Sergio Martínez-Beltrán,
NPR,
7 July 2025
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Tina, 52, was later found clinging to a tree and yelling for help, another family friend said.—
Abigail Adams,
People.com,
6 July 2025
Noun
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Former player Maria Sharapova’s world-class shrieks were once measured at 101 decibels — roughly the level of a pneumatic drill.—
Brandon Griggs,
CNN Money,
8 July 2025
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Pretty soon, the whine of the gears, the shriek of the diff, and the sheer cacophony of combustion make conversation all but impossible.—
Tim Pitt,
Robb Report,
28 May 2025
Verb
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The emotional toll is enormous: Dream returns to the Dreaming and washes Orpheus’ blood from his hands, sobbing in solitude.—
Aya Al-Hakim,
People.com,
7 July 2025
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Emotional and at times sobbing, Clark shared the complicated calculation made by anyone who elected to work for Combs.—
Marco della Cava,
USA Today,
3 July 2025
Verb
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Because real branding isn’t about turning heads at the Met Gala or chasing clicks or shouting the loudest in the room.—
Jeetendr Sehdev,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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The chief example of rudeness here is shouting admonishments at other opera patrons.—
Judith Martin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 June 2025
Noun
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Air raid sirens, the whine of kamikaze drones and booming detonations reverberated from early evening until dawn as Russia launched what Ukraine's Air Force said was a total of 539 drones and 11 missiles.—
Pavel Polityuk,
USA Today,
4 July 2025
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Pretty soon, the whine of the gears, the shriek of the diff, and the sheer cacophony of combustion make conversation all but impossible.—
Tim Pitt,
Robb Report,
28 May 2025
Verb
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Talk about a plate-spinning act that would make even a Cirque du Soleil performer weep.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
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Teny Geragos, one of his lawyers, wept and wiped away tears with a tissue.—
Daniel Arkin,
NBC news,
2 July 2025
Verb
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Woman screams as snake attacks—dog jumps in and takes the venom for her The video highlighted the canine parents, with viewers instantly falling in love with the unique puppies.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 July 2025
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This maxi dress screams summer vacation on the French Riviera.—
Rylee Johnston,
Travel + Leisure,
2 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bawl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bawl. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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