sobbing 1 of 3

adjective

as in crying

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sobbing

2 of 3

noun

as in weeping

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sobbing

3 of 3

verb

present participle of sob
as in blubbering
to shed tears often while making meaningless sounds as a sign of pain or distress the child sobbed when she found the dead frog

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 sobbing
Noun
Family and friends sat on long benches, some sobbing as screens displayed photos of Salgado Araujo. — Albinson Linares, NBC news, 17 July 2026 Homeland Security posted the original image of Armstrong’s arrest with another image being posted shortly after from the White House showing her sobbing. — Tevon Blair, Essence, 28 Jan. 2026 Then, in the first quarter, Haliburton fell to the court just beyond the three, banging his fist and sobbing. — Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 20 Dec. 2025 Whether wasted out of her mind after Hedda Gabler (Tessa Thompson) coaxes Hoss’ imperious literature professor off the wagon, or a sobbing, heaving wreck of herself when the pages of her latest book go missing at a 1950s mansion party. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 30 Nov. 2025 This show is equal parts feel-good and pass-me-the-tissues-because-I’m-sobbing. — Nikki Sternberg, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2025 There are no scenes of her sobbing or breaking apart in rage. — Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor, 16 Jan. 2025
Verb
When the coroner’s deputy lifted Malachi’s body to take it away that night in October 2023, there was no wailing or sobbing from his parents. — Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 25 Aug. 2026 After the conversation, Gajdusek drove down the highway, sobbing. — Rachel Aviv, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026 Clancy was heard loudly sobbing during the graphic testimony about the injuries to her children's bodies. — Melina Khan, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026 As Olsen continued to testify, Clancy began sobbing again and laid her head on the table. — Matt Schooley, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026 Outpouring of grief The sound of sobbing underlays chanting in dozens of dialects woven together in a single expression of sorrow for Imam Hussein and his companions and family, killed and taken captive in the defining event of Shia Islam. — Jane Arraf, NPR, 10 Aug. 2026 During the attack, terrified students huddled together under their desks, sobbing as gunshots rang out nearby, video filmed inside a classroom and verified by CNN showed. — Helen Regan, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026 As Springer was testifying about the photos and the wounds suffered by the 8-month-old child, Clancy could be heard sobbing. — Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026 Kotzmacher fell into her little sister's arms sobbing after the walk-off loss. — Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sobbing
  1. crying
  2. weeping
  3. wailing
  4. whimpering
  5. whining
Adjective
  • Some in the pro-crying camp pointed to articles and headlines as proof.
    — Jon Sarlin, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
Definition of crying
Noun
  • Police were deployed at the hospital as grieving parents and relatives gathered, some weeping, while others called for accountability and demanded answers about how the fire began and whether the nursery had adequate firefighting equipment.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Grieving parents and relatives gathered at the hospital, some weeping while others demanded answers about how the fire began and whether the nursery had adequate firefighting equipment.
    — Munir Ahmed, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of weeping
Adjective
  • Sitting opposite an old people’s home in a residential corner of Paris’ 14th arrondissement, La Santé’s unassuming presence is only given away by the occasional wailing siren as prisoners are transported to and from the site.
    — Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Definition of wailing
Noun
  • Scarface doesn’t just bark orders at his underlings but browbeats the whimpering Ventriloquist, giving him that warped double personality that made older characters like Two-Face so alluring.
    — Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
  • When this happens, the family finds Cassidy breathing heavily and whimpering.
    — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of whimpering
Noun
  • At low speeds through the town of Imola and villages beyond it, the most prominent sound is the whining of the rear differential.
    — Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 18 May 2026
  • That broader perspective may explain why Hamlin’s criticisms rarely sound like post-race whining.
    — Greg Engle, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
Definition of whining

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Cite this Entry

“Sobbing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sobbing. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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