I cannot bray like a donkey. I'm a horse.
Source: tatoeba (1681922)
Bray
/bɹeɪ/
Synonyms for "bray" (183 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (37)
Strong matches (55)
Related words (91)
Show 67 more words
poundpowderpulepulverizeraspreduce to powderroarrumblescranchscrapescratchscreakscreamscreechscrunchshardshoutshredshrieksibilatesighsingsmashsnapsnarlsnoresnortsobsoundsound a tattoosound tapssquallsquashsquawksqueaksquealtantaratantararatapstarantaratattoothundertoottootletrituratetroattrumpettrumpet blasttrumpet calltwangtweedleululatewailwarblewhickerwhinewhinnywhisperwhistlewindyapyawlyawpyellyelpyipyowl
Verb(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: abrade, ass cry, atomize, bark, bawl.
- Sentence evidence is available for bray, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, opengloss, derived_reverse, wordnet, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "bray".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "bray"
Keep "bray" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "bray" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "bray", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "bray" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
16 entriesbreak upcryemitexpress joyexpress mirthexpressionfragmentfragmentisefragmentizelaughlet looselet outsoundspeechuttervocalization
More specific
8 entriesCollocations
10 entriesanimal cryanimal vocalizationbray at dawnbray loudlybray soundbray with laughterdonkey braydonkey vocalizationharsh brayloud bray
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
1 entriesTranslations
40 translations across 31 languages.
Ancient Greek
1 entries- βρωμάομαι verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
Arabic
1 entries- نَهَقَ verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
Azerbaijani
1 entries- anqırmaq verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
Basque
1 entries- arrantza egin verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
Bulgarian
1 entries- рева като магаре verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
Catalan
1 entries- bramar verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
Czech
1 entries- hýkat verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
Dutch
1 entries- balken verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
Finnish
2 entries- hirnua verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
- kiljua verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
French
1 entries- braire (âne) verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
Galician
1 entries- ornear verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
German
3 entries- iahen verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
- kreischen verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
- schreien verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
Greek
1 entries- γκαρίζω verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
Hebrew
1 entries- נער verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
Icelandic
1 entries- rymja verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
Ido
1 entries- bramar verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
Indonesian
1 entries- meringkik verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
Italian
1 entries- ragliare verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
Latin
2 entries- oncō verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
- rudō verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
Māori
1 entries- ngehengehe verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
Ngazidja Comorian
1 entries- ulila verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
Norman
1 entries- braithe verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
Portuguese
2 entries- ornejar verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
- zurrar verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
Russian
1 entries- реве́ть verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
Serbo-Croatian
2 entries- njakati verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
- revati verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
Slovak
1 entries- híkať verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
Spanish
3 entries- ornear verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
- rebuznar verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
- roznar verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
Swedish
1 entries- skria verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
Turkish
1 entries- anırmak verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
Urdu
1 entries- ڈَھین٘چُوں verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
Welsh
2 entries- brefu verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
- nadu verb (to make the cry of a donkey)
Sample sentences
21 total sentences available.
A donkey in a lion's skin exposes itself with its bray.
Source: tatoeba (9841333)
A donkey in a lion's skin reveals itself with its bray.
Source: tatoeba (9841335)
Donkeys bray.
Source: tatoeba (12420074)
Showing 4 of 21 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "bray"?
Closest matches include abrade, ass cry, atomize, bark, bawl.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "bray"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.