crying
adjective
cry·ing ˈkrī-iŋ 
1
: calling for notice
a crying need
2
: notorious, heinous
a crying shame
Synonyms
- acute
- burning
- clamant
- compelling
- critical
- dire
- emergent
- exigent
- imperative
- imperious
- importunate
- instant
- necessitous
- pressing
- urgent
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a crying need for more activities for young people in this town
Recent Examples on the Web But his crying scene in Ford v Ferrari is one for the ages. 
Michael Granberry, Dallas News, 17 Jan. 2020
Michael Granberry, Dallas News, 17 Jan. 2020 Word History
First Known Use
circa 1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing crying
crying 1 of 3
adjective
as in urgent
needing immediate attention a crying need for more activities for young people in this town Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- urgent
- acute
- pressing
- burning
- desperate
- intense
- dire
- critical
- compelling
- instant
- emergent
- importunate
- serious
- demanding
- insistent
- clamant
- imperative
- extreme
- exigent
- immediate
- imperious
- overriding
- severe
- grave
- necessitous
- crucial
- dangerous
- hazardous
- life-or-death
- unstable
- explosive
- precarious
- vital
- perilous
- life-and-death
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- trivial
- minor
- unimportant
- noncritical
- negligible
- incidental
- nonurgent
- safe
- stable
- nonthreatening
- low-pressure
crying
2 of 3noun
as in sobbing
Synonyms & Similar Words
- sobbing
- weeping
- whining
- whimpering
- blubbering
- sniveling
- wail
- groan
- yammering
- lamentation
- moan
- bawl
- keen
- whine
- shriek
- lament
- cry
- whimper
- plaint
- yelp
- howl
- squall
- yowl
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- laugh
- giggle
- chuckle
- guffaw
- snicker
- cackle
- titter
- twitter
- chortle
- snigger
crying
3 of 3verb
1
as in weeping
to shed tears often while making meaningless sounds as a sign of pain or distress some kids started to cry even before the doctor had given them their shot Synonyms & Similar Words
- sobbing
- weeping
- screaming
- bawling
- blubbering
- grieving
- blubbing
- whimpering
- whining
- mourning
- moaning
- groaning
- howling
- wailing
- sniffling
- lamenting
- sighing
- squalling
- mewling
- keening
- sniveling
- greeting
- yowling
- puling
- snivelling
- bleating
2
as in singing
to utter one's distinctive animal sound we knew that we were getting very close to the ocean when we could hear sea gulls crying Synonyms & Similar Words
- singing
- calling
3
as in shouting
to speak so as to be heard at a distance a mother crying for help Synonyms & Similar Words
- shouting
- yelling
- screaming
- hollering
- bawling
- calling
- roaring
- vociferating
- bellowing
- thundering
- baying
- shrieking
- wailing
- hallooing
- sounding off
- whooping
- howling
- holloing
- screeching
- squealing
- squeaking
- shrilling
- crowing
- caterwauling
- yowling
- ululating
- hailing
- yawping
- speaking out
- yauping
- speaking up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- whispering
- muttering
- murmuring
- breathing
- mumbling