Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun wail

1 sense of wail

Sense 1
lament, lamentation, plaint, wail -- (a cry of sorrow and grief; "their pitiful laments could be heard throughout the ward")
       => complaint -- ((formerly) a loud cry (or repeated cries) of pain or rage or sorrow)

Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb wail

2 senses of wail

Sense 1
howl, ululate, wail, roar, yawl, yaup -- (emit long loud cries; "wail in self-pity"; "howl with sorrow")
       => shout, shout out, cry, call, yell, scream, holler, hollo, squall -- (utter a sudden loud cry; "she cried with pain when the doctor inserted the needle"; "I yelled to her from the window but she couldn't hear me")

Sense 2
wail, whimper, mewl, pule -- (cry weakly or softly; "she wailed with pain")
       => cry, weep -- (shed tears because of sadness, rage, or pain; "She cried bitterly when she heard the news of his death"; "The girl in the wheelchair wept with frustration when she could not get up the stairs")