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Outcry vs Wail - What's the difference?

outcry | wail | Related terms |

Outcry is a related term of wail.


In lang=en terms the difference between outcry and wail

is that outcry is to cry louder than while wail is to lament; to bewail; to grieve over.

As nouns the difference between outcry and wail

is that outcry is a loud cry or uproar while wail is a prolonged cry, usually high-pitched, especially as of grief or anguish.

As verbs the difference between outcry and wail

is that outcry is to cry out while wail is to cry out, as in sorrow or anguish or wail can be (obsolete) to choose; to select.

outcry

English

Noun

(outcries)
  • a loud cry or uproar
    • His appearance was greeted with an outcry of jeering.
  • a strong protest
    • The proposal was met with a public outcry .

    Verb

  • To cry out.
  • * 1919 , Debates in the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention, 1917-1918: Volume 1
    • I think any man who outcries against the power of the government in Germany soon ceases to cry at all, because he is crushed.
  • To cry louder than.
  • * 2003 , Melvyn Bragg, Crossing the lines (page 355)
    • ...outcrying the clacking of train wheels, the shrill of the whistle...
  • * 2007 , Anthony Dalton, Alone Against the Arctic (page 104)
    • The dogs added their voices to the din, howling for hours, each trying to outcry the others.

    Anagrams

    * English heteronyms

    wail

    English

    Etymology 1

    Probably from (etyl) Etymology in Webster's Dictionary

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A prolonged cry, usually high-pitched, especially as of grief or anguish.
    • She let out a loud, doleful wail .
  • Any similar sound as of lamentation; a howl.
    • The wail of snow-dark winter winds.
    A bird's wail in the night.
  • A sound made by emergency vehicle sirens, contrasted with "yelp" which is higher-pitched and faster.

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To cry out, as in sorrow or anguish.
  • To weep, lament persistently or bitterly.
  • To make a noise like mourning or crying.
    • The wind wailed and the rain streamed down.
  • To lament; to bewail; to grieve over.
    • to wail one's death
    (Shakespeare)
  • (slang, music) To perform with great liveliness and force.
  • *
  • *
  • *
    • Derived terms
    * wailer * wailingly
    References

    Etymology 2

    Compare Icelandic word for "choice".

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To choose; to select.
  • * Henryson
    • Wailed wine and meats
    (Webster 1913) English terms with homophones