What does "crybaby" mean?
A baby who cries excessively.
Crybaby
/ˈkɹaɪˌbeɪbi/ noun, verb, slang
noun, verb, slang ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A baby who cries excessively.
- Grammar: crybaby is listed as noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: complainer, whiner, baby, bellyacher.
- Useful contrasts: admired term, calm child, praise label.
- Usage evidence: He's a crybaby, just like always.
How to use "crybaby"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "crybaby" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "crybaby" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "crybaby" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "crybaby" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "crybaby" is acting as noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "complainer" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "crybaby", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A baby who cries excessively.
"A notorious human crybaby, according to her older siblings, parents and the building superintendent, will cry for two hours every two hours, refusing to acknowledge any distinction between crying and other basic infant activities, like “being awake” or “breathing.”"
- 2 a person given to excessive complaints and crying and whining wordnet
- 3 Someone whose feelings are very easily hurt, often by trivial matters. derogatory, slang
"Then he used the occasion to humiliate the provost, calling her an example of the censorious crybabies whom he had come to relieve of their responsibility."
- 4 a person who lacks confidence, is irresolute and wishy-washy wordnet
- 5 Someone who takes offense or excessively complains when things are not going well. derogatory, slang
"[…]Now there are a lot of crybabies around who are talking about what ought to have done and the bomb ought to have had a demonstration in Japan before you killed all those people. […] I don't care what the crybabies say now because they didn't have to make the decision."
Verb
- 1 To act like a crybaby. intransitive
"Out: Trash talk, dirty play, crybabying, showboating and players who can't be bothered to show up for games or keep their shoes on."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
admired termcalm childpraise labelquiet child
Example
"He's a crybaby, just like always."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "crybaby"?
Common synonyms include: complainer, whiner, baby, bellyacher, big baby, chicken.
How do you use "crybaby" in a sentence?
He's a crybaby, just like always.
How do you pronounce "crybaby"?
Pronounced /ˈkɹaɪˌbeɪbi/.
Etymology
From cry + baby.