cries 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of cry
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
as in sings
to utter one's distinctive animal sound we knew that we were getting very close to the ocean when we could hear sea gulls crying

Synonyms & Similar Words

3

cries

2 of 2

noun

plural of cry
1
2
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
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. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of cries
Verb
Kelli cries over how solid the Mwangi unit is, praising Gerald as a father and husband and affirming that Shamea’s ass is real, while everyone else looks on, bewildered. Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 8 June 2026 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 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
As the bodies were returned to their families, cries echoed through the neighborhood. ABC News, 1 July 2026 The other was a tearing beauty, a creature so lovely that one look at her sent young men’s blood pressure skyward and set them to uttering wild, hoarse cries and tearing telephone directories apart with the bare hands. John Madson, Outdoor Life, 1 July 2026 The monitor uses special technology to eliminate background noise and deliver clear audio of your baby’s coughs, cries, coos, and signs. Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 1 July 2026 Such efforts at avoidance would lead to cries to apply payroll taxes to non-salary incomes such as dividends. Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026 When Judge Miguel De La O announced his decision, an audible gasp and cries could be heard from Bland inside the courtroom. Chelsea Jones, CBS News, 23 June 2026 What breaks my heart is that Vermax’s cries sounded like a dog crying, a dog dying. Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 22 June 2026 The little one’s first cries somehow complete the circle. Literary Hub, 19 June 2026 The soundtrack of sneaker squeaks, rallying cries, and bouncing basketballs found visual complement in the crayon box of jerseys coloring the city in various shades of hometown pride. Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cries
Verb
  • Her endless screams and sobs echo back to the agonized wailing of The Mist’s David Drayton, who murdered his child and friends for nothing.
    Josh Weiss, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
  • 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
Verb
  • Chaka Khan sings her heart out at HarbourView Equity Partners’ signature concert series, Las’ Set, in Cannes, France on June 25.
    Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026
  • Confidence in God as ever-present Love sings through the ages in this hymn.
    Kit Cornell Kurtz, Christian Science Monitor, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • If a street preacher shouts their sermon into a bullhorn on a public street, and a nearby business owner calls the police, who is in the right?
    Emily Holshouser July 2, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 July 2026
  • Sirens, horns, and shouts to evacuate rang out in the West Bottoms and along Southwest Boulevard all morning, but the speed of the flooding still caught everyone off guard.
    Kansas City Public Library staff, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • Many American poets have written hymns and howls, declarations and outcries for this country that brims with so many people, and so many hopes, from all over the world.
    Scott Simon, NPR, 4 July 2026
  • Through blood-curdling howls and rants about fascism, fraud, and fighting to understand your identity, Truck Violence push through ugliness to find something more unaltered and real.
    Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 25 June 2026
Noun
  • Cisco has built and is refining an AI tool for investor relations that analyzes its financial history alongside competitors’ earnings calls and can anticipate likely questions from specific analysts.
    Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 1 July 2026
  • Florida officials have identified the woman who died after she was mauled by an alligator while swimming in a river with her boyfriend and best friend over the weekend, and 911 calls detail the desperate attempt to save her life.
    Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • Hundreds of people have gathered throughout the week to carry posters, shout slogans, and sing.
    Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 26 June 2026
  • The Tesla’s desecration follows a vandalism spree in Queens that saw religious centers, homes and vehicles defiled with swastikas and antisemitic slogans last month.
    Barry Williams, New York Daily News, 26 June 2026
Noun
  • The court may also issue decisions about emergency appeals over the next three months.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • However, users can still place wagers on prediction markets as the case moves through the appeals process.
    Nathan Goldman, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • The delighted screams were coming from a man wearing a Mexico soccer jersey in the first row.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • Alicent fights back and is ultimately rescued by Grand Maester Orwyle, who hears her screams.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 29 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cries. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on cries

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster