bawling

4 3.5

Loud, noisy crying when someone is very upset

noun
/ˈbɔːlɪŋ/

: llanto

But you see these people bawling their eyes out over their employees and the idea that they can't work for them and stuff.
stop your bawling
sound of their bawling

Examples

We went out, leaving my sister with six bawling kids, my two having joined right in.

Fiction book (1993)
The mother's bawling and the uncle's pissed off.

Spotlight (2015)
And I was like, sitting there bawling my eyes out.
I mean, just bawling the entire way home.
Stop that bawling, will ya?

Oscar (1991)
He came back in and I just started bawling my eyes out when I saw him again because I missed him so much.
After it was over, she curled up on the couch bawling.

Blog text (3)
Kaylla closed her eyes, hearing the pleas of her husband and the bawling of her children.

Fiction book (1992)
There is an atmosphere of panic in the room, an air of confusion that's not alleviated in the least by Dru's incessant bawling.

Fiction book (1995)
After receiving the sad news, she was overcome with emotion and could not stop bawling.

Synonyms

cry

vsbawling

260 1.0

A time when someone has tears because they feel sad or upset

is louder and more unrestrained than a typical weeping episode

screaming

vsbawling

92 1.9

A very loud high, piercing noise that hurts the ears

is focused on loud uncontrolled weeping sounds rather than pure high pitch

sob

vsbawling

74 1.0

A short, noisy breath made when you cry

is louder and more uncontrolled than this brief breath catching

sobbing

vsbawling

69 1.0

Short gasping sounds someone makes while crying loudly

is louder and more uncontrolled vocal expression while shedding tears

screeching

vsbawling

58 3.3

A very loud high sound that hurts your ears

is loud and emotional but not necessarily this piercing high pitched tone

wail

vsbawling

54 3.2

A long loud cry that shows pain or deep sadness

is more unrestrained and noisier than this extended sorrowful sound

howling

vsbawling

47 4.1

A long loud cry that shows strong feeling

is louder and less controlled vocal display during emotional distress

crying

vsbawling

38 1.0

Tears and sounds you make when you feel sad or hurt

is louder and more uncontrolled vocal expression than ordinary tear shedding

weeping

vsbawling

31 1.4

A time when someone cries with tears and sobs

is louder and less restrained expression beyond simple tear shedding

shrieking

vsbawling

15 3.0

A loud, very high sound like a scream made by a person or animal

is louder and more unrestrained but centers on sustained weeping rather than shock

wailing

vsbawling

5 3.5

Loud long cries made when someone feels deep pain or sadness

is similar but more unrestrained and noisy rather than controlled

keening

vsbawling

Archaic

2 8.6

A long high sad cry people make for someone who died

is broader and less ritualistic used in many strong emotional displays

Antonyms

silence

660 2.0

A period with no sound or speech

whispering

35 1.9

Speaking very softly using only breath so the words are hard to hear

Compounds

bawling out

Informal

7.6

A loud, angry talk that tells someone they made a mistake

How Loud

wailing

5 3.5

bawling

4 3.5

sobbing

69 1.0

weeping

3.2

tearing

1 1.4

Surface Forms

bawling singular

bawlings plural

Morphology

bawling = bawl (transparent) = bawl + ing

Standard deverbal noun/gerund formed with -ing; the meaning 'the act or sound of bawling' is directly predictable from 'bawl'.

Etymology

Bawling comes from the old verb bawl, a word that probably began by copying the loud, rough sound people make when they cry. A helpful way to remember bawling is to think of a baby or person making a big noisy cry — 'to cry loudly' — which is exactly what the word means.