Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible: Used to describe something that is a glaringly obvious and shocking example of a negative quality, such as injustice or error.
   • Demanding attention; urgent: Used to describe a need or issue that is so pressing it cannot be ignored.

2. Noun:

   • The act of shedding tears: The process of producing tears from the eyes, typically accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds, as an expression of emotion.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • It is a crying shame that such talent goes unrecognized.
  • There is a crying need for affordable housing in this city.
• Noun:
  • The constant crying of the baby kept the neighbors awake.
  • She could hear the sound of crying coming from the next room.

Advanced Usage

• "a crying shame": An idiom used to emphasize that something is a particularly regrettable or unfortunate situation.
  • It's a crying shame that the old theater was demolished.
• "a crying need": A phrase used to describe an extremely urgent and obvious requirement.
  • There is a crying need for better public transportation here.

Variants and Related Words

• Cry (verb): To shed tears; to shout or call out loudly.
  • The child began to cry.
• Crybaby (noun, informal): A person, often a child, who cries frequently or with little cause.
• Cry out (phrasal verb): To shout or exclaim loudly, often in pain, fear, or protest.

Synonyms

• Adjective (for 'bad/reprehensible'): Egregious, flagrant, glaring, gross, rank.
• Adjective (for 'urgent'): Clamant, exigent, insistent, pressing, instant.
• Noun: Weeping, sobbing, wailing, bawling.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• For crying out loud: An exclamation of frustration, annoyance, or impatience.
  • For crying out loud, will you please be quiet!
• A far cry from: Very different from something.
  • This modern apartment is a far cry from his old cottage.

Adjective

1. conspicuously and outrageously bad or reprehensible
   • a crying shame
   • an egregious lie
   • flagrant violation of human rights
   • a glaring error
   • gross ineptitude
   • gross injustice
   • rank treachery
2. demanding attention
   • clamant needs
   • a crying need
   • regarded literary questions as exigent and momentous- H.L.Mencken
   • insistent hunger
   • an instant need

Noun

1. the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
   • I hate to hear the crying of a child
   • she was in tears