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Definition of wailer

wailer

/ˈweɪlɚ/
wail · er
Plural:wailers
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wailer Lexical Profile

wailer Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A person who cries out loudly in grief, pain, or lamentation, especially a professional mourner hired to lament at a funeral.

Example

"In several ancient cultures, professional wailers walked at the front of the funeral procession to express collective sorrow."

2

A person who habitually complains or whines.

Example

"The committee ignored the constant wailers who objected to every minor policy update without offering solutions."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for wailer
Antonyms
View all antonyms for wailer

Word Nuance & Usage

Do not confuse 'wailer' (one who cries out or laments) with its homophone 'whaler' (a person or vessel engaged in hunting whales).

• Rhymes for wailer

• Nearby Words

waihou
waikato
wail
wailer
wailua
wailua falls
waimakariri

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in Middle English from the verb 'wail' (derived from Old Norse *veila*, meaning 'to lament', from *vei*, meaning 'woe') combined with the agentive suffix '-er'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Wailer. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/wailer
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