moans 1 of 2

noun

plural of moan
1
as in groans
a long low sound indicating pain or grief she uttered an agonized moan and clutched her stomach

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2
as in wails
a crying out in grief moans arose from the crowd as the funeral procession for the well-loved senator made its way down the street

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3
as in whines
an expression of dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment the crowd responded with a moan when it was announced that the rest of the show would be cancelled due to the weather

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moans

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of moan
1
as in cries
to utter a moan he moaned and cried for days after his dog, his only companion, died

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2
as in complains
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely their son moaned whenever anyone asked him to do some work

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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 moans
Noun
In the decades after his death, Johnson’s loose playing and harrowing moans set American music on a path that would encompass Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan, even Nas. — Steven Johnson, Washington Post, 14 July 2026 Sweet tweets, soft moans, the distant caw of a shore bird piloting toward the sea, spirited and hopeful, daylight already breaking through. — Literary Hub, 13 July 2026 The moans announced the doubt throughout Riviera’s 18th green amphitheater, a bowl full of thousands of fans unsure if the new guy could do it. — Brody Miller, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026 At the moment that B’Tselem says Hathaleen collapsed, the visuals are jostled but moans of pain can be heard. — Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2026 Two microphones angle towards the duduk to capture resonant moans, creaks, squeaks and honks akin to the bridge’s. — Ruby Rosenthal, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026 Most of these are held in a tent, from which loud, ecstatic moans can be heard for seemingly miles around. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2025 Deeper into Cardoso’s forest, brown howler monkeys fill the viscous air with their guttural moans. — Mark Johanson, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Apr. 2022
Verb
Musselwhite punctuated the music with his harmonica trills and moans while his right knee bounced in time with the rhythms. — Kevin McKeough, Chicago Tribune, 7 June 2026 As the video continues, one person can be heard yelling her name while the makeup artist moans in pain. — Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 21 May 2026 The Freight House building creaks and moans underfoot, and passing trains produce little more than a subtle hum. — Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026 Back in the car, Albert moans and groans while Billie shrieks in panic. — Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Feb. 2026 Passersby hear its shrieks and moans from the road. — Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 17 Feb. 2026 Fennell begins on a black screen and the sound of creaks and moans. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026 Shannon moans right about the time Jenn walks out to see what the commotion is all about. — Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moans
  1. groans
  2. wails
  3. complaints
  4. complains
  5. tears
  6. whimpers
  7. screams
  8. cries
Noun
  • This reality might produce some groans among the kiddos in your lives, but parents can revel in the fact that BTS sales abound.
    — Melissa Knific, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The moment was met with several groans from the audience in the room.
    — Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 25 July 2026
Definition of groans
Noun
  • Mourners beat their chests rhythmically in the intense summer heat, the wails of women cutting through the noise as the body of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was unveiled beneath a glass case at the Grand Mosalla.
    — Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
  • After a second of consideration, Naim slams the grate shut to the monster’s wails, and the audience’s relief.
    — Arushi Jacob, Variety, 19 June 2026
Definition of wails
Noun
  • Two people were arrested, but charges were dropped pending the outcome of the internal review after complaints about the use of force.
    — Marvin Hurst, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The police investigation was launched following complaints from relatives of the victims of the Gwangju crackdown, which official records say left about 200 people dead.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of complaints
Verb
  • The private sector complains that there are jobs but that Indians aren’t skilled enough to be hired.
    — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Prescribing Tylenol to a patient who continually complains of back pain will not necessarily solve what ails them.
    — Chris Adams, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of complains
Noun
  • With tears in their eyes, Raq wonders if her son still loves her.
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026
  • While Bret purports to understand, there are unmistakable tears in his eyes.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of tears
Noun
  • At the hospital in Dollow, mothers sat shoulder to shoulder on narrow beds holding frail children, some too weak to cry while others let out soft whimpers.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Earlier this month, a Gardena police officer responded to a report that there were whimpers and cries coming from a self-compacting trash can outside a church.
    — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026
Definition of whimpers
Verb
  • Witness accounts describe chaotic scene In the video, as many as five officers can be seen, and shrieks, screams, and cries are heard.
    — Marvin Hurst, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Graham and some of this congregation brought ice cream to their staffs — teenagers mostly, some of whom likely worked the weekend shift and heard the shots and screams next door.
    — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of screams
Noun
  • Witness accounts describe chaotic scene In the video, as many as five officers can be seen, and shrieks, screams, and cries are heard.
    — Marvin Hurst, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • For all its characteristic restraint and formal diligence, Killing Spree is a book that wants to make noise, to cut through the dead air with cries of grief and rage, undoing our own savage torpor.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of cries

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moans
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Cite this Entry

“Moans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moans. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of moans for Spanish Speakers

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