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
as in shriek
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of bawl
Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2024
This is crazy, and the world’s gonna hate me, [just] bawling my eyes out.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 24 July 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for bawl 
Verb
Yet when the whistle sounded on the U.S. women’s soccer team’s 1-0 win over Brazil in last Saturday’s gold-medal game at the Paris Olympics, Swanson rushed to Naeher, wrapped both arms around her neck and began to bawl.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2024
This is crazy, and the world’s gonna hate me, [just] bawling my eyes out.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 24 July 2024
Noun
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
See all Example Sentences for bawl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bawl
Verb
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On March 20, 2006, Tanya cried at work and told Joe that her real name was Tanya Kach, not Nikki Allen and that Hose had been holding her captive.—
Jessica Sager,
People.com,
10 Feb. 2025
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And in hard moments, Alex would scream, cry or run to crawl onto my lap.—
Alicia Simba,
The Mercury News,
9 Feb. 2025
Verb
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At one point, the situation escalated when the passenger began yelling loudly and incoherently.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
11 Feb. 2025
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Natalie then continued to yell at Josh as Florian escorted her away from the conversation.—
Abigail Adams,
People.com,
11 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Upon opening the haircare tools — which retail at about $600 — the room filled with shrieks of happiness.—
Zoey Lyttle,
People.com,
23 Dec. 2024
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As Hollis releases her son’s hand and backs into the kitchen, Richard shrieks at Pino.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
8 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The trailer opens with a clip of Lizzo sobbing while looking at the camera over the eerie sound of a flute playing.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
14 Feb. 2025
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While some of Lively’s complaints to Wayfarer and Sony include accusing Baldoni of sage-purifying Lively’s employees, sobbing over unflattering paparazzi photos of her, and claiming to psychically speak to her dead father (if Nicepool did all that, it would have been considered too over the top).—
James Hibberd,
The Hollywood Reporter,
11 Feb. 2025
Verb
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As Robinson spoke, or tried to speak, Butler shouted from across the locker room to Robinson that Robinson didn’t have to talk, wasn’t required to do the interview.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
8 Feb. 2025
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Watch Goldberg shout for Haines to come down from The View tower in the video above.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
8 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Fritz revved the engine, a desperate, needling whine, and the vessel lurched down the airstrip, the chute billowing awake behind him.—
Nick Paumgarten,
The New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2025
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Families fall asleep to the thump of nearby airstrikes and the constant whine of an Israeli drone overhead.—
Raf Sanchez,
NBC News,
25 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Touching the yarn as it was being spun was like strumming a gently weeping guitar.—
Gary Shteyngart,
The Atlantic,
7 Feb. 2025
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In video footage released by the Israeli government, the women could be seen weeping and hugging their family members.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
20 Jan. 2025
Verb
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In San Diego this incited Beatlemania-volume screaming.—
Abby Aguirre,
Vogue,
11 Feb. 2025
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There was the monotony, euphoria, and bemusement of performing the same show to 60,000 screaming fans night after night.—
Federico Fahsbender,
Rolling Stone,
11 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near bawl
Cite this Entry
“Bawl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bawl. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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