keened

verb

past tense of keen
1
as in complained
to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment usually tiresomely victims of the disaster have been keening for weeks about the slowness of governmental aid

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in howled
to make a long loud mournful sound mourners keening for the victims of the bombing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for keened
  1. complained
  2. howled
  3. screamed
  4. whined
  5. moaned
  6. muttered
Verb
  • Stewart complained about the chain’s merchandising and quality control, and Kmart was drifting toward financial trouble.
    — Fernanda Tronco, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • This year, in August, Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young complained about a Fever fan during a game, and security pulled him aside.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of complained
Verb
  • The killings had begun, and the few protesters still waiting in the cold rain howled, their worst nightmares finally made real.
    — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
  • There are moments on Wowed Out when a younger James would have howled, would have ventured all the way out to sea, would have let his guitar erupt.
    — Ryan Leas, Pitchfork, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of howled
Verb
  • Paired with an all-leather ensemble, pants and pointed-toe pumps included, the hair screamed ’80s rom-com star, the curls falling toward her face in a single swift motion.
    — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Yaffa, who was carrying a pink-and-green school backpack and a matching lunchbox, screamed and covered her ears.
    — Mosab Abu Toha, New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of screamed
Verb
  • Post-Covid, Hollywood has whined about the falloff for MPA fare in Pan Asian territories, particularly the once-robust South Korea.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 28 July 2026
  • After a few casts, Rubye’s rod bent, and the reel whined as line spooled out.
    — John Todd, Outdoor Life, 9 July 2026
Definition of whined
Verb
  • Coach Arne Slot moaned about VAR but his problems lie much closer to home.
    — Phil Hay, New York Times, 4 May 2026
  • Critics moaned when the CFP committee picked the Hurricanes over Notre Dame as the last Power 4 entry into the playoffs.
    — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2026
Definition of moaned
Verb
  • The camera then cut to McCarthy, who muttered a profanity in response.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Heti stared at the drawing in front of her and muttered whatever under her breath.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of muttered
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Keened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/keened. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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