sobbing
Weeping with convulsions
Sobbing is crying with convulsive gasps and heaving breaths—more intense than weeping, harder to control.
The word captures both the sound and the physical struggle: She was sobbing so hard she couldn't speak.
As a noun, it names the act itself: His sobbing echoed through the empty house.
Emotional tear release
- weepingShedding tears audibly
- whimperingCrying weakly, softly
- snifflingRepeated nasal inhalation
- snivelingTearful, pitiful complaining
blubbering · moaning · gasping · choking · hiccupping · sputtering · muffled · stifled
Period following loss
- bereavementState following loss
- lossBeing without something
- sorrowDeep emotional distress
- lamentationPassionate expression of grief
grieving · funeral · condolences · remembrance · memorial · wake · eulogy · inconsolable
Prolonged mournful crying
- bawlingCrying noisily and hard
- howlingProlonged mournful crying sound
- hystericalEmotionally out of control
- convulsingShaking uncontrollably, involuntarily
shuddering · keening · uncontrollable · heaving · racking · violent · gut-wrenching · breathless
To let go
- reliefEasing of distress
- purgingForcible elimination of unwanted
- healingRestoration of health
- cleansingRemoving dirt or toxins
unburdening · liberation · renewal · processing · breakthrough · letting go · ventilation · outpouring
Severe prolonged suffering
- agonyExtreme physical or emotional pain
- sufferingSustained experience of distress
- distressSevere anxiety or suffering
- painBodily or emotional distress
trauma · misery · woe · affliction · tragedy · heartache · devastation · desperation
State without hope
- dejectionState of lowness
- desolationState of complete emptiness
- despondencyProfound loss of hope
- bleaknessQuality of being dreary
resignation · depression · melancholy · forlorn · woebegone · disconsolate · crestfallen · dismal
Overwhelmed with grief
- lovelornUnhappy due to unreturned affection
- jiltedAbruptly rejected romantically
- rejectionDenial of acceptance
- abandonmentAct of leaving permanently
betrayal · divorce · separation · unrequited · loneliness · dumped · spurned · forsaken
crying
Emotional tear release
- weepingShedding tears audibly
- whimperingCrying weakly, softly
- snifflingRepeated nasal inhalation
sniveling · blubbering · moaning · gasping · choking · hiccupping · sputtering · muffled · stifled · ragged
mourning
Period following loss
- bereavementState following loss
- lossBeing without something
- sorrowDeep emotional distress
lamentation · grieving · funeral · condolences · remembrance · memorial · wake · eulogy · inconsolable · bereft
wailing
Prolonged mournful crying
- bawlingCrying noisily and hard
- howlingProlonged mournful crying sound
- hystericalEmotionally out of control
convulsing · shuddering · keening · uncontrollable · heaving · racking · violent · gut-wrenching · breathless · overwhelming
release
To let go
cleansing · unburdening · liberation · renewal · processing · breakthrough · letting go · ventilation · outpouring · emotional release
torment
Severe prolonged suffering
- agonyExtreme physical or emotional pain
- sufferingSustained experience of distress
- distressSevere anxiety or suffering
pain · trauma · misery · woe · affliction · tragedy · heartache · devastation · desperation · wretchedness
hopelessness
State without hope
- dejectionState of lowness
- desolationState of complete emptiness
- despondencyProfound loss of hope
bleakness · resignation · depression · melancholy · forlorn · woebegone · disconsolate · crestfallen · dismal · gloom
brokenhearted
Overwhelmed with grief
- lovelornUnhappy due to unreturned affection
- jiltedAbruptly rejected romantically
- rejectionDenial of acceptance
abandonment · betrayal · divorce · separation · unrequited · loneliness · dumped · spurned · forsaken · estranged
- cryingcry, crying, tears, weep, weeping
- dramatic behaviortantrum, outburst, meltdown, scene, fit
- lamentslamentation, wailing, keen, keening, lament
- melodramatichistrionic, theatrical, overwrought, exaggerated, dramatic
- sadnesssad, unhappy, grief, sorrowful, heartbroken
- theatricstheatrics, dramatics, melodrama, histrionics, theatricality